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THE       FIRST       DECADE 

OF  THE ^  — 

lMiddlesex  county 
historical  society 

MIDDLETOWN,    CONNECTICUT 


1901-191 


Flo9- 


LIST  OF  ARTICLES 


OWNED  BY  THE 


MIDDLESEX  COUNTY  HISTORICAL 
SOCIETY 


EXHIBITED  IN  ITS  BUILDING 


868637 


nn'V 


2jtBt  of  Arlirlps 


1.  Photograph  of  Middletown  in  i86S. 

2.  a,  b.  Photograph  of  residence  of  Commodore  Thomas 
Macdonough,  1819-1825,  demolished  in  1893,  and  replaced  by 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building. 

3.  Early  oil  painting  of  Middletown  by  Richard  W.  Hubbard, 
a  native  of  Middletown. 

4.  Photographs  of  six  historic  homes  in  Middletown,  pre- 
pared for  the  Jamestown  Exposition,  1907. 

5.  a,b,  c.  Photographs  of  old  First  Church  on  Main  Street, 
Middletown. 

6.  Collection  of  fashion  plates,  1848. 

7.  Indian  arrowheads,  bought  in  1907  at  Richmond,  Va. 

8.  Picture  of  Colonel  Return  Jonathan  Meigs  of  Middle- 
town,  who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.     1740-1823. 

9.  Epaulettes  of  Billings  Neff  of  Portland,  Lieutenant  of 
the  6th  Regiment,  Connecticut  Militia. 

10.  Sword  and  sash  of  Billings  Neff. 

11.  Framed  army  recruiting  poster,  October  24,  1861. 

12.  Engraving  of  Lady  Washington's  Reception,  "from 
the  original  picture  in  possession  of  A.  T.  Stewart,  Esq." 

13.  Kej'  to  No.  12. 

14.  Picture  of  Wolcott  Huntington  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  who 
married  Jane  E.  Watkinson  of  Middletown,  whose  home  was 
on  Main  Street. 

15.  Warrant  for  arrest  of  Caesar,  Negro,  for  "  Prophane 
Swearing,  threatening  and  contemptuous  language."  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1787. 

16.  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity  at  the  tomb  of  Washington. 

17.  Pencil  sketch  of  Captain  Alden  Partridge,  aged  40,  and 
of  the  American  Literary,  Scientific,  and  Military  Academy, 
Middletown,  1826. 


i8.     Camp-chair  made   from  wood  of  old  elm   tree  under 
whose  branches  the  first  settlers  of  Middletown  commenced 
their  worship,  which  was  the  foundation  of  the  First  Church. 
19.     Photograph  of  Joseph  W.  Alsop,  1804. 
no.     Framed  State  Democratic  ticket,  1839. 
.   21.     Framed  circular  with  sketches  of  lives  of  Democratic 
,  State  GardJdates,  1839. 

;  ;  .22.     Bi;igrav»id    copperplate    business    card,    Greenfield    & 
Phelps,  Middletown. 

23.  Cradle  from  estate  of  the  late  Charles  A.  Boardman  of 
Middletown,  1812-1907. 

24.  Engraving,  Daniel  Webster  addressing  the  Senate,  1850. 

25.  Key  to  No.  24. 

26.  Democratic  handbill,  1838. 

27.  Democratic  handbill,  1839. 

28.  Old  engraving  of  Capitol  at  Washington. 

29.  Framed  Middletown  Daily  News,  November  14,  1850. 

30.  Framed  Middlesex  Gazette,  May  13,  1809. 

31.  Old  engraving,  L,ast  Days  of  Webster  at  Marshfield. 

32.  Genealogy  of  the  Washington  family. 

33.  Framed  contract  drawn  by  Washington. 

34.  The  will  of  Mary  Washington.     Framed  printed  copy. 

35.  Lock  of  Washington's  hair,  given  by  his  servant,  Hamet 
Achmet,  to  Mrs.  S.  A.  Hart  of  Middletown  in  1840. 

36.  Oil  portrait  of  Jonathan  Barnes,  Esq.,  1789-1861. 

37.  Picture  of  the  Charter  Oak. 

38.  Confederate  button. 

39.  Foot-stove,  1780. 

40.  Picture  of  John  D.  Dickinson,  1768-1841,  Congressman 
from  New  York. 

41.  Photograph  of  Dr.  Charles  Woodward  of  Middletown, 
1799-1870. 

42.  Photograph  of  Charles  R.  Woodward  of  Middletown, 
1832-1904. 

43.  Photograph  of  Henry  Woodward  of  Middletown,  1838- 
1907. 

44.  Photograph  of  John  Herbert  Watkinson. 

45.  Framed  manuscript  list  of  contributors  to  fund  for 
enclosing  burial  ground,  now  Riverside  Cemetery,  Middle- 
town,  1815. 


46.  Old  illustrated  design  of  Life  and  Ages  of  Man. 

47.  Old  picture  of  Rome. 

48.  Parsonage  on  High  Street  near  head  of  College  Street, 
Middletown,  owned  and  occupied  by  Rev.  Enoch  Huntington, 
pastor  of  the  First  Church,  1762-1809.  Painted  by  Miss  Mar- 
garet M.  Van  Deursen. 

49.  Picture  of  Daniel  Webster. 

50.  Painting  of  house  of  Rev.  William  Russell,  pastor  of 
the  First  Church,  1715-1761. 

51.  Landscape  by  John  A.  Sumner  of  Middletown,  died  1899. 

52.  Landscape  by  John  A.  Sumner. 

53.  Poster  of  Hartford,  Providence  and  Boston  Mail  Line 
of  Post  Coaches. 

54.  Illuminated  parchment  and  seal. 

55.  Old  round  table. 

56.  Portrait  of  Dr.  Joseph  Barratt,  a  native  of  England, 
Professor  of  Botany,  Chemistry,  and  Mineralogy  in  the  A.  L. 
S.  &  M.  Academy  at  Norwich,  Vt.,  and  Middletown  from 
1824-1828,  afterwards  practising  physician  in  Middletown. 

57.  Photograph  of  Main  Street,  Middletown. 

58.  Portrait  of  Isaac  Hubbard  of  Middlefield. 

59.  Photograph  of  Gen.  Samuel  Holden  Parsons'  house, 
Main  Street,  Middletown,  foot  of  Church  Street,  built  by 
Constant  Kirtland,  1753,  demolished  19 — . 

60.  Engraving  of  Nehemiah  Hubbard  of  Middletown,  in 
his  83rd  year.     1752-1837. 

61.  Old  mantel  clock. 

62.  Piece  of  Charter  Oak. 

63.  Miniature  Liberty  Bell. 

64.  Pipe  and  case  belonging  to  Dr.  John  Dickinson,  Middle- 
town,  1730-1811. 

65.  New  England  Society  button  from  Portland  Exposition, 

1905- 

66.  Massachusetts  button  from  Portland  Exposition,  1905. 

67.  John  Winthrop  button,  from  New  London  celebration, 
1906. 

68.  Powder-horn,  once  owned  by  Julius  Andrews  of  East 
Haddam,  and  said  to  have  been  used  in  the  Indian  Wars  and 
the  Revolution. 


69.  Confederate  five-dollar  bill. 

70.  Ring  made  from  wood  of  Charter  Oak. 

71.  Medal  to  commemorate  the  50th  anniversary  of  the 
death  of  Thomas  Robbins,  D.  D.  Presented  by  the  Connec- 
ticut Historical  Society. 

72.  Medal  from  the  Jamestown  Exposition,  1907. 

73.  Key  of  front  door  of  old  Court  House  in  Middletown, 
demolished  1893. 

74.  a,  b.  Keys  of  Town  Clerk's  office  in  old  Court  House 
in  Middletown. 

75.  a,  b.  Signs  of  Isaac  Webb,  Attorney-at-Law,  who  once 
conducted  a  school  on  High  Street,  in  the  building  now  known 
as  East  Hall  of  Wesleyan  University. 

76.  Spinning  wheel. 

77.  Reel  for  skeining  woolen  yarn. 

78.  Old  kettle  crane. 

79.  Baker  shovel,  used  for  drawing  bread,  etc.,  from  old 
brick  oven. 

80.  Pistol,  made  in  Middletown,  1862,  by  Alsop  Arms  Co. 

81.  Clock  weight  from  Gen.  Parsons'  house.     (See  No.  59.) 

82.  One-dollar  bill  of  Central  National  Bank,  Middletown, 
Nov.  17,  1851,  bearing  signatures  of  Henry  D.  Smith,  Cashier, 
and  Charles  Woodward,  President. 

83.  Flint-lock  fowling-piece. 

84.  String  of  antique  sleigh-bells. 

85.  Complete  old  appliance  for  making  cheese. 

86.  Runlet,  or  wooden  drinking  bottle. 

87.  Three  silver-plated  buttons  formerly  worn  by  the 
Partridge  Cadets  and  recently  excavated  on  the  grounds  of 
Wesleyan  University. 

88.  Old  embroidered  cloth  bag. 

89.  Medal  of  the  Father  Mathew  Temperance  Society. 

90.  Exhibition  case  of  plane  irons,  made  by  E.  W.  N.  Starr 
&Co. 

91.  Daguerreotype  of  Rev.  John  R.  Crane,  D.  D.,  pastor  of 
the  first  Church  of  Middletown,  1818-.1853. 

92.  Picture  of  Dr.  Wm.  Bryan  Casey,  a  former  physician  of 
Middletown,  surgeon  of  the  20th  Conn.  Regiment. 

93.  Portrait  of  Gen.  William  H.  Russell,  native  of  Middle- 
town,  late  of  New  Haven. 


94-     Ten-skilling  piece,  Danish-American,  1816. 

95.  Tin  baker  for  fire-place. 

96.  Old  mortar  and  pestle. 

97.  Old  brass  kettle. 

98.  Crane  for  fire-place. 

99.  Wall  map  of  Middletown,  1851. 
100.     Large  hair  trunk. 

loi.     Small  hair  trunk. 

102.  Old-fashioned  wall  candlestick. 

103.  Illustrated  map  of  Andersonville  Prison. 

104.  Foot-stove,  from  old  Stow  house,  Middlefield. 

105.  Iron  skillet  used  by  the  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Geo.  N. 
Ward  of  Middletown. 

106.  Old  soup  tureen  and  ladle. 

107.  Old  china  platter. 

108.  Covered  basket,  which  belonged  to  Mrs.  Samuel 
Mather,  grandmother  of  Mrs.  W.  B.  Hubbard. 

109.  Large  old  clothes-basket. 

no.  Old  bandbox  with  picture  of  New  York  City  Hall  on 
cover. 

111.  Steelyards. 

112.  a,  b,  c.  Three  fire-buckets  stored  for  years  in  the  loft 
of  the  Middlesex  County  National  Bank. 

113.  a,  b.  Two  fire-buckets  owned  by  Capt.  Henry  Louis 
de  Koven  of  Middletown. 

114.  a,  b.  Two  fire-buckets  from  estate  of  Charles  A. 
Boardman  of  Middletown. 

115.  Fire-bucket  owned  by  Mrs.  Sarah  S.  Spencer,  who  in 
1824  built  and  occupied  the  house  now  208  Washington  Street, 
Middletown. 

116.  a,  b,  c.     Fire-buckets. 

117.  Small  hair  trunk. 

118.  Old  waSle  iron. 

119.  Candle  mould. 

120.  a,  b.     Fluid  lamps. 

121.  Engraving  of  Henry  Clay. 

122.  Office  doorplate  of  Dr.  Wm.  Bryan  Casey.    (See  No.  92.) 

123.  a,  b,  c.     Whiskey  flasks.     1850. 

124.  Small  steelyards,  made  in  Middletown. 


125-     Combination  knife,  fork,  and  spoon. 

126.  Framed  copy  of  Declaration  of  Independence.     1818. 

127.  Picture  of  Henry  Clay  Work,  poet  of  the  Civil  War. 

128.  a,  b.     Hetchels. 

129.  a,  b,  c,  d,  e.     Reel. 

130.  Portrait  of  Fanny  Harrison  of  North  Branford,  sister 
of  Captain  Harrison  of  war  of  1812. 

132.  Photograph  of  old  Court  House,  Middletown,  demol- 
ished 1893. 

133.  Painting  by  Benjamin   P.  Elliott,  who  lived  on  the 
corner  of  Court  and  Pearl  Streets,  Middletown. 


The  following  articles  are  from  the  collection  of  Mr.  Charles 
H.  Neff  of  Portland: 


134 


Reel. 


135.  Old  cow-bell. 

136.  Fire-tongs. 

137.  Old  hand-made  shears. 

138.  Very  old  tinder-box. 

139.  Pot  hook,  to  lift  pots  and  kettles. 

140.  Two  weaver's  shuttles. 

141.  Powder-horn. 

142.  Hank  of  bleached  linen  thread. 

143.  Skein  of  white  linen  yarn. 

144.  Two  hanks  of  unbleached  spun  flax. 

145.  Hank  of  unbleached  linen  thread. 

146.  Roll  of  sheep's  wool. 

147.  Old  foot-stove. 

148.  Piece  of  wood  from  the  keel  of  a  ship  unearthed  in 
Front  Street,  New  York,  in  1893.  The  ship  is  claimed  to  have 
been  an  English  transport,  which  brought  troops  and  ammuni- 
tion to  this  country  in  the  French  Colonial  Wars,  and  which 
was  sunk  in  New  York  harbor  about  1733. 

149.  Swingling  knife,  used  for  beating  flax. 

150.  Rapier,  31-inch  blade. 

151.  Rapier  and  sheath. 

152.  Flint-lock  picked  up  on  the  battlefield  of  Yorktown, 
Va.,  about  1850. 


153-     Pair  of  worsted  hetchels  over  loo  years  old. 

154.  Iron  crane,  owned  by  great-grandfather  of  Charles  A. 
Pelton  of  Middletown.  From  Aunt  Philinda  Pel  ton  House, 
Penfield  Hill,  Portland. 

155.  Old  barometer  and  thermometer,  once  belonging  to 
the  Overton  family,  Portland. 

156.  Old  iron  toaster. 

157.  Revolving  gridiron  with  receptacle  for  fat. 

158.  String  of  eight  old  spools. 

159.  Old  Dutch  axe  brought  over  in  early  days.  Uncovered 
when  ploughing. 

160.  Small  old  pair  of  candle  snuffers. 

161.  Old  clasp-knife  of  odd  form. 

162.  Brass  candlestick. 

163.  Old  style  bullet  mould. 

164.  Pair  of  creepers,  used  for  walking  on  ice. 

165.  Iron  snuffers  and  tray. 

166.  Thirty-one  chipped  flints,  made  for  the  flint-lock  mus- 
kets used  in  the  old  militia  companies. 

167.  Sword  with  sheath.  A  relic  of  the  Spanish-American 
War. 

168.  Hetchel  for  cleaning  flax  or  hemp. 

169.  Three  cannon-balls  and  shell  found  in  an  old  house  in 
Portland. 


170.  a,  b.  Two  U.  S.  Army  pistols,  manufactured  in  Middle- 
town  by  Simeon  North  in  what  is  now  the  factory  of  the 
Rockfall  Woolen  Co. 

171.  Photograph  of  John  A.  Sumner,  an  artist  of  Middle- 
town,  August  4,  1825-December  10,  1899. 

172.  Photograph  of  Gen.  Wm.  H.  Noble  of  Bridgeport, 
born  Aug.  18,  1813,  in  Middletown. 

173.  Photograph  of  Col.  Henry  C.  Shumway,  7th  Regt., 
N.  Y.,  native  of  Middletown. 

174.  Three  hickory  net-needles,  used  in  repairing  shad-nets. 
Found  in  garret  of  old  Atkins  House,  South  Main  Street, 
Middletown. 

175.  Photograph  of  the  medal  given  to  all  surviving  three- 
months  men  in  the  Civil  War. 


176.  Piece  of  hand-made  clap-board  taken  from  Central 
Hotel,  Meriden,  built  in  1752,  removed  in  1890. 

177.  Plan  and  specifications  of  Woodward  House,  built  by 
Samuel  Stearns,  corner  of  Broad  and  Court  Streets,  Middletown. 

178.  Gentleman's  sword,  which  belonged  to  Capt.  Hubbard 
Fuller,  Moodus. 

179.  a,  b.  Two  military  hats  worn  by  members  of  Mans- 
field Guard,  6th  Regt.  Conn.  Militia. 

180.  Bayonet  sheath  with  canvas  belt,  said  to  have  been 
used  in  the  Mexican  War. 

181.  Bayonet  found  in  digging  sewer  in  northern  part  of 
Middletown,  1908. 

182.  Artillery  pike  found  in  ruins  of  Wilcox  &  Crittenden 
factory,  built  in  1808,  burned  1907. 

183.  Forty-pound  shot  that  killed  Charles  C.  Pollard  at 
Spring  Hill,  Va.,  in  the  Civil  War. 

184.  Folio  containing  30  photographs  of  celebrated  paint- 
ings and  places  in  Europe,  and  several  local  views. 

185.  Framed  letter  to  Philip  Mortimer  from  trustees  of  the 
First  Church,  tendering  him  a  church  sitting  in  appreciation 
of  his  donation  of  a  burying-ground  for  the  use  of  the  people 
of  the  city. 

186.  Toll  sign  from  Middletown-Portland  bridge,  made  free 
1908. 

187.  Pre-Revolutionary  sign  from  Dan  Cheney's  tavern, 
Portland.  Masonic  emblems  are  painted  on  one  side,  and  a 
schooner  on  the  other. 

188.  Cane  and  banner  from  dedication  of  stone  bridge. 
Hartford. 

189.  a,  b.     Two  astral  lamps. 

190.  fl,  b,  c,  d.     Four  military  hats. 

191.  Old  toasting-iron. 

192.  a,  b,  c.     Three  Indian  stone  weapons. 

193.  Pair  of  old  beaded  moccasins. 

194.  Old  iron  shovel. 

195.  Old-fashioned  travelling  bag. 

196.  Flip-iron. 

197.  Eleven  colored  military  pictures. 

198.  Advertising  signs  of  Joseph  T.  Bell,  manufacturer  of 
military  caps  and  belts,  New  York. 


199-  OflBce  sign  of  E.  W.  N.  Starr,  town  clerk  in  Middle- 
town  for  thirty-eight  years. 

200.  Silk  banner  of  Mattabesett  Division  of  Sons  of  Tem- 
perance. 

2or.  Facsimile  of  judge's  warrant  for  execution  of 
Charles  I. 

202.  Facsimile  of  Connecticut  Charter  of  1662,  obtained  of 
Charles  II.  by  Governor  Winthrop. 

203.  Facsimiles  of  autographs  of  original  officials  of  first 
Government  of  Colony  of  Connecticut  (1639),  comprising  the 
towns  of  Dorchester,  Newtowne,  and  Watertown,  soon  after 
called  Windsor,  Hartford,  and  Wethersfield,  respectively. 

204.  Facsimile  of  autographs  of  the  first  government  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut  (1665),  after  the  union  of  the  colonies  of 
Connecticut  and  New  Haven. 

205.  African  spear-head  made  by  natives. 

206.  Hand-wrought  African  knife. 

207.  Pair  of  white  open-work  stockings,  knit  about  1850  by 
Mrs.  Maria  Bishop. 

208.  Knapsack  of  Mansfield  Guard. 

209.  Musket  used  by  Gilbert  Bailey  of  Middletown  in  the 
Mexican  War. 

210.  Chair  owned  and  used  bv  Pres.  Washington  in  New 
York. 

211.  Old  door  lock,  found  in  the  Eagle  Hall  Block. 

212.  Small  sampler. 

213.  Musket  made  in  Middletown  in  1833,  by  Nathan  Starr. 
Found  in  the  Eagle  Hall  Block. 

214.  Framed  letter  of  Daniel  French  to  his  mother.  French 
was  a  native  of  Berlin,  Conn.  He  was  a  high-grade  mechanic 
and  especially  interested  in  steam  engines  and  their  use  in 
steamboats.  It  seems  probable  that  Fulton  and  Livingston 
employed  him  to  build  the  "  Enterprise  "  and  to  equip  it  with 
one  of  his  engines. 

215.  Small  band-box,  made  in  imitation  of  those  in  use  by 
ladies  about  70  years  ago. 

•  216.  Spool  of  sewing-silk  bought  during  the  Civil  War  of 
Mr.  James  H.  Taylor,  a  merchant  tailor  doing  business  on 
Main  Street.     Cost  $1.37. 


10 

217-  Photograph  of  Mr.  George  H.  Bishop.  Born  in  Middle- 
town,  June  II,  1831,  died  August  19,  1909.  A  well-known 
civil  engineer  and  one  of  the  best  authorities  on  hydraulic 
engineering  in  the  country. 

218.  Old  spectacles  in  case. 

219.  Badge  of  the  Harrison  and  Tyler  political  campaign. 

220.  Model  of  a  privateer,  which  was  commanded  by  Capt. 
William  Van  Deursen,  grandfather  of  Miss  M.  M.  Van  Deursen, 
during  part  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  model  was  made 
from  a  single  block  of  wood  by  Capt.  Van  Deursen's  nephew, 
Charles  Francis. 

221.  Three  silhouettes,  of  Mrs.  Richard  Hubbard,  Edward 
C.  Hubbard,  and  a  relative. 

222.  Framed  photograph  of  Mr.  Walter  B.  Hubbard,  a 
charter  member  of  the  Middlesex  County  Historical  Society, 
leader  of  the  Membership  and  House  Committees,  to  whom  is 
due  much  of  the  present  attractiveness  of  the  Society's  rooms. 

223.  Old-fashioned  stiletto. 

224.  Search-Warrant  with  signature  of  Jabez  Hamlin,  first 
Mayor  of  Middletown.  Served  at  the  instigation  of  Robert 
Hubbard  on  November  24,  1774. 

225.  Flint-lock  pistol,  made  in  Middletown  1844,  by  J.  D. 
Johnson.     One  of  the  last  of  this  kind  made. 

226.  Cups  and  saucer  of  "  Bristol  "  ware.  Belonged  to  Gen. 
Lusk  who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

227.  Platter  of  "Davenport"  ware.  Belonged  to  Gen. 
Lusk. 

228.  Eight  nails  from  a  house  one  hundred  and  fifty  years 
old,  known  as  the  Congregational  Mission  House  of  Middle 
Haddam. 

229.  Sword  of  Ithamar  Pelton,  grandfather  of  William 
Walter  Pelton  of  Cromwell  and  of  Dr.  J.  A.  Pelton,  formerly 
of  Middletown. 

230.  Watch  carried  through  the  Civil  War  by  Dumont 
Ripley  Carey,  step-grandson  of  Judge  Hezekiah  Ripley  of 
Windham,  Conn. 

231.  Yale  diploma  of  Judge  Hezekiah  Ripley  of  Windham, 
Conn.     1764. 

232.  Hour-glass. 


11 

233-     Spinning-wheek 

234.  Reel. 

235.  Cord  and  tassel  used  in  the  old  First  Church  on  Main 
Street. 

236.  A  round  table  from  the  estate  of  George  H.  Hulbert. 

237.  Old  high-back  rocking-chair. 

238.  Old  sofa  formerly  the  property  of  Edward  A.  Russell. 

239.  a,  b.  Quaint  leghorn  hat,  formerly  the  property  of 
Miss  Emily  Tracy.  Band-box  of  old-fashioned  style  formerly 
in  family  of  Mrs.  A.  W.  Hazen. 

240.  "Flip"  glass,  formerly  the  property  of  Col.  John 
Sumner,  who  died  in  1787,  aged  51  years. 

241.  Dutch  oven,  formerly  belonged  to  Mrs.  Clarissa  Birdsey 
of  Middletown. 

242.  a,  b,  c.  Three  antique  trays,  formerly  belonged  to 
Mrs.  Clarissa  Birdsey  of  Middletown. 

243.  Photograph  of  Jonathan  Kilbourn,  for  many  years  the 
proprietor  of  the  Farmers  and  Mechanics  Hotel,  Middletown. 

244.  Photograph  of  Benjamin  Butler,  a  native  of  Cromwell, 
for  many  years  a  sail-maker  on  Water  Street,  Middletown. 

245.  Photograph  of  Gen.  James  T.  Pratt  of  the  State  Militia, 
a  native  of  Middletown. 

246.  Old-fashioned  spectacles. 

247.  Badge  of  member  of  Committee  on  First  Settlers  worn 
by  Frank  F.  Starr  at  250th  Anniversary  of  settlement  of  town 
of  Middletown. 

248.  a,  b,  c,  d.  Badge  of  Aid  at  the  Centennial  Anniversary 
of  Middletown,  1884,  worn  by  E.  W.  N.  Starr.  Also  three 
other  badges  used  on  same  occasion. 

249.  Framed  photograph  of  Josiah  Meigs  Hubbard,  a  native 
and  resident  of  Middletown,  1832-1909. 

250.  Old  style  straw  bonnet. 

251.  Framed  photograph  of  Brig.  Gen.  Joseph  King  Fenno 
Mansfield,  U.  S.  A.     For  many  years  a  resident  of  Middletown. 

252.  Antique  hunting-knife  found  on  the  farm  of  Dr.  Miner 
C.  Hazen  of  Haddani,  Conn. 

253.  Framed  photograph  of  Horace  Clark,  ninth  mayor  of 
Middletown. 

254.  Musket  balls  found  on  the  battlefield  of  Saratoga, 
about  1840  by  E.  W.  N.  Starr. 


12 

255-  Framed  lithograph  of  old  Middletown,  which  had  hung 
iu  the  office  of  Meech  &  Stoddard  since  1870. 

256.  Engraving  of  the  Charter  Oak,  from  the  original  paint- 
ing, formerly  in  the  possession  of  Hon.  Marshall  Jewell  of 
Hartford. 

257.  Photograph  of  the  Gen.  Samuel  Holden  Parsons'  house, 
1783-1786.  Built  by  Constance  Kirkland  in  1783.  Torn  down 
in  19 — . 

258.  a,  b.  Framed  photograph  of  Elijah  Hubbard  Roberts 
and  his  wife,  Emily  Pratt  Roberts. 

259.  Picture  with  signature  and  other  handwriting  of  Gen. 
L.  E.  Spinner,  Treasurer  of  the  United  States. 

260.  Silhouette  of  Dr.  Joseph  Barratt  (see  also  56). 

261.  Medal  and  badge,  commemorating  the  unveiling  of 
statue  of  Gov.  Buckingham,  Hartford,  1884. 

262.  Photograph  of  Oliver  Beebe  of  Akron,  Ohio,  born  in 
Middletown,  September,  1810. 

263.  Badge  of  Connecticut  Historical  Society,  commemorat- 
ing Field  Day  at  New  London  and  Groton,  1895. 

264.  a,  b.  Medal  of  Middletown  City  Centennial,  1884. 
Medal  of  250th  Anniversary  of  settlement  of  Middletown,  1900. 

265.  Medal  of  Centennial  of  the  battle  of  Groton  Heights, 
1881. 

266.  Medal  of  Centennial  of  the  inauguration  of  Washington 
as  first  President  of  the  United  States.     1889. 

267.  Curious  old  game  called  "  Star  Spangled  Banner." 

268.  a,  b.  Portrait  in  oils  of  Rev.  Willbur  Fisk,  D.  D., 
1792-1839,  first  President  of  Wesleyan  University,  1831-1839. 
Small  steel  engraving  of  above. 

269.  Steel  engraving  of  Rev.  Chauncey  Goodrich,  Pastor  of 
First  Congregational  Church,  Middletown,  from  July,  1816,  to 
December,  1817. 

270.  Photographs,  from  family  portraits,  of  Capt.  Joseph  W. 
Alsop  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Lucy  Whittelsey  Alsop. 

271.  Portion  of  the  yoke  of  the  bell  of  Christ  Church  (now 
Holy  Trinity),  Middletown,  said  to  be  of  same  age  as  the 
Bell— 1784. 

272.  Tape-loom  for  wea\nng  carpet-binding,  in  use  before 
1800.  Formerly  the  property  of  Mrs.  Comfort  Johnson  of 
Middletown,  grandmother  of  Mrs.  James  P.  Fay. 


13 

273-  Small  antique  mirror.  Formerly  property  of  Mrs. 
Comfort  Johnson. 

274.  Wicker  basket,  formerly  used  to  hold  the  needle-work 
of  the  Middletown  Female  Charitable  Society,  founded  in 
1809. 

275.  Counterpane  of  curious  pattern,  at  least  150  years  old; 
given  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Copeland  by  Miss  Emily  Tracy. 

276.  Daguerreotype  of  Rev.  John  R.  Crane.    Duplicate  of  91. 

277.  Stays  u'orn  in  latter  part  of  1700  by  Miss  Townseud  of 
Oyster  Bay,  L.  I.,  great-aunt  of  Miss  Charlotte  Jackson. 

278.  Straw  poke-bonnet  of  old-time  style. 

279.  rt,  b.     Sabre  and  powderhorn  from  old  Milliard  House. 

280.  Framed  photograph  of  Middletown  and  the  river, 
evidently  taken  from  the  Court  House. 

2S1.     Framed  picture  of  Plymouth,  Mass. 

282.  Mortar  and  pestle  which  belonged  to  Mrs.  Mortimer 
Starr.     Given  by  her  to  Mrs.  Ephraim  F.  Sheldon. 

283.  Pewter  syringe  in  use  in  time  of  Civil  War,  1861-1865. 

284.  a,  b,  c.  Sword,  sash  and  commission  of  Lieut.  Frank 
B.  Comstock,  24th  Connecticut  Regiment. 

285.  a,  b,  c,  d,  e,  f.  Photographs  of  Middletown  at  various 
points,  taken  during  "  blizzard"  of  1888. 

286.  Wooden  shuttle  used  by  the  Pameacha  Manufacturing 
Company,  1S08,  the  first  manufacturers  of  broadcloth  in  the 
U.  S.     Found  in  office  of  Wilcox,  Crittenden  &  Company. 

287.  Spectacles  made  in  Middletown,  probably  about  1800. 

288.  Document:  Resignation  of  Jabez  Hamlin  as  mayor  of 
Middletown,  1788.  Not  accepted,  as  he  served  until  his  death 
in  1791. 

289.  Glazed  tile  from  the  Porcelain  Tower  of  Nanking, 
China,  erected  1411-1430. 

290.  Document:  Order,  calling  together  the  city  authorities 
of  Middletown  to  make  arrangements  for  defense  of  the  city- 
date  probably  about  181 2. 

291.  Cradle  bought  for  Mrs.  Susan  Carrington  Hubbard 
Ray,  in  1831. 

292.  Footstove  which  belonged  to  Henry  Carrington, 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  S.  C.  H.  Ray,  who  died  in  1871,  aged  91. 
He  was  associated  with  Capt.  Joseph  Alsop  in  West  India  trade. 


u 

293.  Massive  lock  and  key  formerly  on  the  store  of  Mr. 
John  Selden,  built  in  1827. 

294.  Homespun  linen  shirt  which  belonged  to  William 
Augustus  Rockwell  of  Middlefield,  Conn. 

295.  Bark  from  "button-ball"  tree;  the  so-called  Indian 
"  Council  Tree,"  near  Sebethe  Bridge,  Cromwell,  Conn. 

296.  Silver  "  Souvenir  "  spoon;  designed  for  Bee  Society  of 
First  Congregational  Church,  Middletown,  1893. 

297.  Child's  cap — hand-wrought  by  the  great-grandmother 
of  Mrs.  Abigail  Tenney  Pomeroy  of  Fitzwilliam,  Mass.,  cousin 
by  marriage  of  Mrs.  R.  T.  Pattison  of  Middletown. 

298.  a,  b.  Opera-bag  of  silk  and  leather — a  "coming  out  " 
gift  to  Miss  Abigail  Tenney,  born  in  Greenwich,  Mass. 
Small  silk  purse  of  above. 

299.  Wedding  vest  of  brocade  silk,  of  Billings  Neff,  Port- 
land, Conn. 

300.  Photograph,  framed,  of  Oliver  Gildersleeve  of  Portland, 
Conn. 

301.  Portrait  in  oils  of  Miss  Abigail  Gardner  Carew,  great- 
aunt  of  Miss  Emily  Tracy  Stedman.     Loaned. 


Ban  Spurepn  (CoUrrtinn 


FURNITURE   AND   PICTURES 


1.  Mirror,  large,  "Dutch"  wood  and  gilt.  Formerly  the 
property  of  Mrs.  Eliza  Van  Deursen  Leflferts  of  Albany. 

2.  Mirror,  gilt  frame,  scroll  at  top  with  picture  inset. 

3.  Mirror,  wood  frame,  gilt  moulding  on  top. 

4.  Mirror,  small,  gilded  wood  frame. 

5.  Sofa,  straight  back,  covered  with  haircloth,  rounded 
ends  and  carved  claw-feet.  Formerly  the  property  of  Rev. 
Walter  Cranston,  of  Savannah,  Ga. 

6.  Sofa,  Grecian.  Formerly  property  of  Capt.  Wni.  Van 
Deursen,  Sr. 


15 

7.  Sofa,  modern,  covered  with  haircloth. 

8.  Table,  large,  two  drop-leaves,  six  legged. 

9.  Table,  circular  folding  top,  spindle-legged,  plain. 

10.  Table,  circular  folding  top,  spindle-legged,  light  color 
wood  inlay.     Formerly  property  of  Rev.  Walter  Cranston. 

11.  Table,  circular  folding  top,  spindle-legged,  dark  wood 
inlay. 

12.  Table,  small,  double  drop-leaf,  oval,  one  drawer. 

13.  Table,  small,  square  top,  three-feet  center  standard. 

14.  Table,  small,  circular  "turn  up,"  three-feet  center 
standard. 

15.  Table,  small,  two  drop-leaves,  one  drawer. 

16.  Table,  four-legged,  drop-leaf,  cross  bars  at  bottom. 

17.  Table,  small,  square,  with  tile  inset  on  top.  Legs  of 
this  table  were  made  from  baluster  of  staircase  in  Nathan 
Starr's  stone  house. 

18.  Table,  work-table,  with  two  drawers,  mahogany 
veneered. 

19.  Chair,  chintz  covered,  large  bedroom  chair. 

20.  Chair,  chintz  covered,  large  bedroom  chair. 

21-28  (inclusive).  Chairs,  cloth  covered  seats,  straight  backs 
with  three  cross-bars  on  backs. 

29.  Arm  chair,  same  style  as  above. 

30.  Arm  chair,  rush  seat,  painted  light  color. 

31.  32.     Arm  chairs,  pair,  with  rush  seats. 

33-39  (inclusive).  Chairs,  rush  seats,  double  cross-rail  on 
backs. 

40,  41.  Arm  chairs,  pair,  rush  seats,  three  vertical  rails  at 
back. 

42.  Chair,  straight  back,  rush  seat  (odd  one). 

43,  44,  45.  Chairs,  rush  seats  painted  white,  black  painted 
frames. 

46.  Chair,  rush  seat,  three-rail  back  (odd  one). 

47.  Chair,  rocker,  with  rush  seat,  four-rail  back. 

48.  Chair,  rocker,  with  rush  seat,  four-rail  head-rest.  Was 
Mrs.  Mary  C.  Van  Deursen's. 

49.  50,  51.     Chairs,  cloth  seat,  open-work  back. 

52.  Chair,  rocker,  with  cloth  seat,  black  frame,  three  cross- 
rail  back. 


16 

53-     Chair,  "  round-about  "  or  corner  chair. 

54,  55.     Footstools,  cloth  covered,  four  straight  legs. 

56,  57.     Footstools,  haircloth  covered. 

58.  Bureau,  swell-front,  four  drawers.  Formerly  the  prop- 
erty of  Martha  Whittlesey  Van  Deursen  of  New  Haven  and 
Middletown. 

59.  Bureau,  square  outline  front,  three  drawers  with  brass 
handles. 

60.  Bureau,  with  three  large  and  two  small  drawers. 

61.  High-boy,  curved  top.  Purchased  by  W.  W.  Van 
Deursen. 

62.  High-boy,  flat  top. 

63.  Book-case,  double  door  top,  with  four  drawers. 

64.  Low-boy,  curved  legs,  brass  handles. 

65.  Low-boy,  curved  legs,  carved  fan-front,  brass  handles. 

66.  Sideboard,  large  mahogany  sideboard.  Formerly  the 
property  of  Rev.  Walter  Cranston. 

67.  Writing  desk,  name  on  plate:  Josiah  Paul  Collin. 

68.  Clock,  tall  clock  with  brass  face.  Purchased  by  W.  W. 
Van  Deursen. 

69-72  (inclusive).  Pictures,  four  Chinese  paintings:  Morn- 
ing, Noon,  Evening,  Night,  from  the  home  of  Rev.  Walter 
Cranston. 

73,  74.  Picture,  colored  lithograph  of  naval  battle  between 
British  ship  "Java"  and  American  ship  "Constitution."  War 
181 2.     Small  copy  of  above. 

75,  76.  Pictures,  small  colored  pictures  of  West  Indian 
figures. 

77.  a,  b.  Coat  of  arms  in  color  of  Cranston  famih'  and  copy 
of  same. 

78.  a,  b.  Miniature  of  Captain  William  Van  Deursen,  Jr., 
U.  S.  Artillery,  1812-15,  commanding  Fort  Trumbull,  Ct.  Copy 
made  by  W.  W.  Van  Deursen. 

79.  Picture,  head  of  a  girl  painted  on  kid. 

80.  Portrait,  Captain  William  Van  Deursen,  Sr. 

81.  Portrait,  Rev.  Walter  Cranston,  by  Charles  King,  of 
Newport,  R.  I. 

82.  Record,  framed,  of  Civil  War  service  of  William  W. 
Van  Deursen. 


17 

83.  Certificate,  framed,  of  Civil  War  service  of  William  W. 
Van  Deursen,  from  State  of  Connecticut. 

84.  Certificate,  membership  in  Society  of  War  of  1812,  Wil- 
liam W.  Van  Deursen. 

85.  Certificate,  membership  in  Society  Sons  of  American 
Revolution  of  William  W.  Van  Deursen. 

86.  Painting,  Madonna  and  Child  by  Charles  King  of  New- 
port, R.  I. 

87.  Print  in  color,  "  Huntsman  in  Woods." 

88.  89.     Chromos,  hunting  scenes. 

90.  Painting,  game  piece. 

91.  Engraving,  Naval  Battle,  "Constitution"  and  "  Guer- 
riere,"  1812. 

92.  Cap  worn  by  William  Van  Deursen  in  Civil  War. 

93.  94.  Platters,  large  oval  china,  green  and  white,  marked 
"V.  D."  in  center. 

95,  96.     Platters,  small  oval  white  ware,  open-work  edge. 

97,  98,  99.     Bowls,  Chinese  ware. 

100.  Trunk,  large,  leather  covered,  set  with  nails,  date 
1688. 

loi.  a,  b.  Trunks,  small,  leather  covered,  brass  nail-set 
bindings. 

102.  Trunk,  green  paper-covered  trunk. 

103.  Trunk,  square,  white  hair-covered. 

104.  Trunk,  hair-covered,  "Pillion." 

105.  Trunk,  large  white  hair-covered. 

106.  Trunk,  square  top  set  with  nails  in  star  shape. 

107.  Backgammon  board. 

108.  Corner  wash-stand. 

109.  China  mirror  holders. 

SILVER 
no.     Pitcher,  cream,  marked  "  M.  W."  (Martha  Whittlesey.) 

111.  Tongs,  sugar,  marked  "  E.  M."  (Esther  Collin  Morris). 

112.  Knife,  butter. 

113.  Spoons,  6  table,  marked  "  J.  M.  C."  (James  and  Mary 
[Arnold]  Collin.) 

114.  Spoons,  4  table,  marked  "A.  S.  VD.  (Abraham  (?) 
Lucretia  Borgandus  Van  Deursen). 


18 

115.     Spoon,  I  table,  marked  "  H.  VD." 
Ii6.     Spoon,  I  table,  marked  "A.  VD." 

117.  Spoons,  12  tea,  marked  "  W.  M.  VD."  (William  and 
Mary  [Cranston]  Van  Deursen). 

118.  Spoon,  I  small  tea,  marked  "  C.  C."  (Comfort  Collin). 

119.  Ladle,  cream,  marked  "  W.  M."  (Margaret  Morris). 

CLOTHING  AND   ORNAMENTS 

120.  Dress,  white  brocaded  in  color  (iStli  century).  Wed- 
ding dress  of  Esther  Collin  Morris,  great  aunt  of  William  W. 
and  Margaret  Van  Duersen. 

121.  Dress,  green  and  gay-colored  brocade,  of  Mrs.  Frances 
Ayrault  Cranston,  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  grandmother  of  Mary  C. 
Van  Deursen  and  great-grandmother  of  William  and  Margaret 
Van  Deursen. 

122.  Dress,  green  and  silver  brocade  given  to  Mary  Cranston 
Van  Deursen  for  her  name,  by  her  cousin  Mary  Cranston 
Styles,  wife  of  President  Ezra  Styles  of  Yale  College.  Mary 
C.  Van  Deursen  was  the  fourth  Mary  Cranston  to  own  it. 

123.  Fan,  painted  silk  and  ivory,  French  style,  1812. 
24.     Comb,  shell,  high-back. 

125.  Brooch,  set  with  hair  and  marked  "William  F.  Van 
Deursen,  died  Nov.  19,  1809,  aged  16  years." 

126.  Brooch,  mourning,  set  with  hair. 

127.  Box,  for  snuff  or  "patches,"  painted  china. 

128.  Box,  for  snuff,  painted  wood. 

129.  Box,  small  silver. 

130.  Box,  small  glass  and  metal. 

131.  a,  b.     Buckles,  pair  of  metal  shoe  or  knee  buckles. 

132.  a,  b.  Buckles,  pair  small,  owned  and  used  by  Josiah 
P.  Collin,  great  uncle  of  William  and  Margaret  M.  Van 
Deursen,  collector  of  ports  at  Trinidad  and  sometime  consul  in 
British  service. 

133.  Scent-bottle,  glass  mounted  with  silver,  marked  "  I.  Q." 


Th< 


le 
/Middlesex  County  Historical  Society 

Address  of  the  President,  the  Rev.  Azel  W.  Hazen,  D.  D.,  on  the 

First  Decade  of  the  Society,  Report  of  the  Secretary,  Mr.  Edward 

H.  Wilkins,  and  Report  of  the  Treasurer,  Mr.  Richard  C. 

Fagan,  as  presented  at  the  Annual  Meeting  held  in 

the  Society's  Building,  Middletown,  Conn.,  April 

eighteenth,  Nineteen  hundred  and  eleven; 

also  a  list  of  the  Officers  and  Members 

and  Articles  owned  by  the  Society 

and  Exhibited  in  its  Building 


PAMPHLET  NO.  9        MAY,  1911 


MIDDLETOWN,  CONN. 

PELTON    &    KING,  PRINTERS   AND   BOOKBINDERS 

1911 


OBJECTS  DESIRED 
FOR  THE  SOCIETY'S  ARCHIVES 


Pamphlets,  handbills,  letters,  diaries, 
deeds,  wills,  records  of  religious  societies, 
business  houses,  etc. 

Old  newspapers  (bound  or  unbound), 
reports  of  anniversaries  of  towns  and 
churches,  books,  articles  of  household 
use,  uniforms,  costumes,  etc. 

Portraits,  badges,  medals,  flags,  guns, 
swords,  Indian  and  war  relics,  historic 
china  or  plate,  furniture  and  other  mem- 
orials representing  local  or  national 
history. 


of  tift 

MxhUtBtK  Olountg  i^tBtnrtral  ^nmtg 


Ahbrraa  of  JIjp  Prrathfttt 


It  was  ten  years  ago  this  eighteenth  day  of  April 
that  the  charter  of  this  Society  was  granted  by  the 
legislature  of  the  commonwealth.  It  therefore  seems 
appropriate  that  a  bare  outline  of  the  progress  of  the 
decade  should  be  drawn  on  this  occasion.  As  the 
Society  is  no  longer  an  experiment,  but  an  honorable 
institution  in  the  life  of  Middletown  and  of  our  county, 
the  story  of  its  early  years  must  always  have  a  peculiar 
interest  for  our  intelligent  citizens.  If  this  story,  as 
now  briefl)'  told,  shall  help,  even  in  scant  measure,  to 
extend  the  influence  of  our  organization,  and  to  deepen 
the  loyalty  of  our  people  thereto,  its  chief  aim  will  be 
accomplished. 

For  several  years  the  annual  reports  of  the  president, 
the  secretary,  and  the  treasurer,  have  been  published 
and  circulated  somewhat  widely.  Naturally,  the  facts 
given  in  the  present  address,  with  now  and  then  its 
language,  will  be  taken  from  these  printed  documents. 
However,  it  appears  to  be  desirable  to  combine  these 
various  data  in  one  group,  that  the  substantial  advance 
of  the  decade  may  be  the  more  readily  understood. 
Since,  that  material  progress  has  been  made,  if  not  all 


which  could  be  desired,  a  mere  glance  at  the  5'ears 
under  review  will  abundantly  demonstrate.  Though 
marked  achievements  cannot  be  claimed,  more  has 
been  wrought  than  the  most  sanguine  dared  anticipate 
when  the  Society  embarked  on  its  unknown  voyage. 

The  movement  toward  the  formation  of  this  Society, 
as  many  of  you  are  aware,  grew  out  of  the  celebration 
of  the  250th  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  Middle- 
town,  which  was  the  most  memorable  event  of  the 
year  1900  in  the  history  of  our  township.  So  genuine 
and  widespread  was  the  enthusiasm  then  awakened 
over  the  two  centuries  and  a  half  of  the  town's  exist- 
ence, so  numerous  and  so  priceless  were  the  articles 
then  exhibited  as  the  possessions  of  our  citizens,  the 
feeling  was  quite  general  that  a  society  should  be 
organized,  whose  aim  should  be  to  preserve  and  to 
perpetuate  the  traditions  of  our  venerable  past,  as  well 
as  to  take  into  its  custody  the  countless  relics  of  other 
days  that  were  in  peril  of  loss,  or  of  ruin,  or  of  trans- 
fer to  other  localities,  to  whatever  extent  these  might 
be  committed  to  our  guardianship. 

One  of  the  prime  movers  in  this  commendable  enter- 
prise, it  is  known  to  manj'-  of  you,  was  Mr.  Albert 
R.  Crittenden,  who  entered  heart  and  soul  into  the 
project.  But  for  his  intelligent  interest  in  the  past, 
his  large  public  spirit,  his  patient  persistence,  his 
generous  self-sacrifice,  his  tireless  labors,  and  his  strong 
hold  of  the  entire  town,  as  well  as  of  its  suburbs,  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  this  Society  would  not  have  had  its 
creditable  record,  even  if  it  had  come  into  being  at  all. 

Other  names  of  those  who  have  been  pillars  in  our 
edifice  will  be  mentioned  in  due  season.  At  the  first 
meeting  of  persons  interested  in  the  movement,  held 


in  the  parlor  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association, 
December  20,  1900,  the  following  were  present:  E.  P. 
Augur,  G.  A.  Craig,  A.  R.  Crittenden,  E.  G.  Derby, 
E.  C.  Douglas,  F.  D.  Haines,  A.  W.  Hazen,  C.  B. 
Leach,  A.  G.  McKee,  D.  W.  Northrop,  C.  A.  Pelton, 
W.  N.  Rice,  F.  F.  Starr,  J.  C.  Van  Benschoten,  W.  W. 
Van  Deursen,  J.  M.  Van  Vleck,  C.  S.  Wadsworth,  F. 
B.  Weeks,  and  C.  R.  Woodward — nineteen  in  all.  It 
was  the  unanimous  judgment  of  these  gentlemen  that 
a  historical  society  ought  to  be  established  here,  and 
Messrs.  Crittenden,  Woodward,  Starr,  Haines,  and  Rice 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  aid  in  the  furtherance 
of  the  project. 

This  committee  reported  the  draft  of  a  charter, 
which  was  unanimously  approved  January  17,  1901, 
and  Messrs.  Crittenden  and  Haines  were  appointed  to 
present  it  to  the  legislature.  The  petition  for  the 
granting  of  the  charter  was  signed  by  sixty-three 
citizens  of  Middletown,  to  which  list  sixteen  names 
were  added  before  the  acceptance  of  the  charter.  This 
roll  of  honor  contains  the  names  of  many  of  the  leading 
men  and  women  of  our  city,  of  whom  fourteen  have 
since  passed  from  earth. 

The  charter  being  granted,  as  before  stated,  April 
18,  1 90 1,  it  was  accepted  June  4,  and  six  days  later 
officers  were  elected  and  the  organization  thus  com- 
pleted. These  officers  were:  president,  A.  W.  Hazen, 
vice-presidents,  A.  R.  Crittenden  and  L.  A.  Mills; 
secretary-treasurer,  J.  T.  Elliott. 

The  first  meetings  in  reference  to  the  organization 
of  the  Societ)^  and  for  the  perfecting  of  its  plans  were 
held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association.     Then  several  were  held  in  the  city  court 


room,  and  for  more  than  a  year  afterwards  the  parlors 
of  the  First  Church  were  occupied.  In  the  autumn  of 
1903  the  convenient  and  attractive  Williams  Library 
of  the  Berkeley  Divinity  School  was  thrown  open  to 
us  by  the  courtesy  of  the  faculty  of  the  institution, 
one  of  whom,  Dr.  Samuel  Hart,  the  president  of  the 
Connecticut  Historical  Society,  has  been  an  invaluable 
member  of  our  own  from  its  earl}^  days,  being  a 
sagacious  counsellor  and  a  willing  helper,  always 
attending  our  meetings  when  possible,  and  contribut- 
ing not  a  little  to  their  profit. 

The  librarian  of  Wesleyan  University  showed  us 
much  kindness  in  the  period  of  our  wandering  by 
cheerfully  furnishing  us  an  alcove  in  which  to  deposit 
our  books  and  pamphlets  as  they  came  to  us.  Other 
treasures  were  stored  here  and  there  by  the  hospitality 
of  our  friends  for  many  months. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  April,  1903,  Mr.  H.  C. 
Whittlesey  was  chosen  secretary,  Mr.  Elliott  having 
resigned  the  office.  At  the  next  meeting  the  office  of 
treasurer  was  separated  from  that  of  secretary^  and 
Mr.  Elliott  was  elected  to  fill  the  same.  At  the  meet- 
ing in  February,  1904,  it  was  announced  that  the 
general  committee  on  the  celebration  of  the  250th 
anniversary  of  the  founding  of  Middletown  had  voted 
to  transfer  its  records  and  funds  to  this  Society  for 
safe  keeping.  It  was  agreed  to  accept  the  trust,  and 
also  the  oversight  of  the  permanent  memorial  boulder, 
near  the  site  of  the  first  house  of  worship  in  the  town. 
Mr.  W.  B.  Hubbard,  to  whose  keen  interest  in  our 
history  and  cultivated  taste  the  splendid  monument 
was  largely  due,  was  appointed  its  special  guardian. 
For  some  years  after  the  successful  commemoration  of 


our  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  it  was  hoped  that  its 
proceedings  might  be  gathered  up  into  a  volume  for 
preservation  and  circulation.  The  first  delay  was 
caused  by  the  failure  of  Dr.  John  Fiske  to  transmit 
to  us  the  manuscript  of  his  address  on  the  occasion, 
considerably  amplified,  as  he  gave  us  reason  to  expect 
he  would  do.  But  death  overtook  him  with  this 
avowed  purpose  unfulfilled.  Other  obstacles  to  the 
preparation  and  issuing  of  a  suitable  printed  memorial 
of  this  noteworthy  anniversarj'  arose,  till  perhaps  the 
time  for  it  has  now  gone  by.  Yet,  that  a  compendious 
and  an  accurate  history  of  Middletown  is  greatly  to  be 
desired  there  can  be  no  question.  The  possibility  of 
such  a  work  lessens  constantly  as  the  years  go  by. 
Oh  that  we  had  .some  citizen  with  the  leisure,  the 
knowledge,  the  judgment,  the  literar>'  skill,  and  the 
sympathetic  loyalty  to  our  traditions,  to  trace  the 
record  of  this  ancient  township  and  its  environs,  for 
ourselves  and  those  who  come  after  us. 

The  principal  event  of  our  history  in  1904  was  the 
raising  of  an  endowment  fund  of  $6,000.  Mr.  William 
W.  Wilcox,  one  of  the  intelligent  and  high-minded 
citizens  of  Middletown,  a  short  time  before  his  lamented 
death,  offered  to  give  the  Society  $2,000  towards  a 
building  for  its  home,  on  condition  that  $4,000  more 
should  be  secured  by  the  end  of  1903.  So  sincere  was 
he  in  his  proposition  that  he  had  it  inscribed  in  his 
last  will  and  testament,  that  we  might  be  the  more 
certain  to  avail  ourselves  thereof.  And  when  many 
obstacles  prevented  our  meeting  the  terms  of  the  pro- 
posed gift,  his  executors  generously  lengthened  the 
time  suggested  l»y  him  an  entire  twelvemonth,  thereby 
making  it  possible  for  us  to  realize  the  earnest  wish  of 


our  distinguished  friend.  The  committee  having  the 
matter  of  raising  this  sum  in  charge  found  that  people 
were  not  wilhng  to  subscribe  money  for  a  building 
unless  the  Society  was  sure  of  an  income  adequate  to 
meet  its  annual  outlays.  Hence,  with  the  consent  of 
the  heirs  of  Mr.  Wilcox,  it  was  agreed  to  appeal  for 
$4,000  towards  an  endowment.  This  amount  was 
pledged  before  the  close  of  the  year,  thus  placing  the 
Society  upon  a  more  solid  foundation.  The  names  of 
the  donors,  fifty-three  in  all,  are  inscribed  in  our 
records,  with  the  sums  given  affixed  to  them.  They 
include  not  onl}'  prominent  citizens  of  our  own  town, 
but  also  liberal-minded  residents  of  adjoining  towns, 
particularly  of  Middlefield  and  Portland.  All  honor 
to  them,  for  thus  aiding  to  equip  an  institution  which, 
with  wise  management  and  ever  increasing  resources, 
may  be  a  genuine  boon  to  our  county. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  in  April,  1905, 
it  was  voted  to  authorize  the  executive  committee  to 
appoint  an  assistant  secretary,  and  later  Miss  Alice  M. 
Hotchkiss  was  secured  for  this  position.  In  May,  not 
to  trespass  too  long  upon  the  hospitality  of  the  Berkeley 
Divinity  School,  and  that  we  might  have  room  for  our 
enlarging  library,  it  was  decided  to  rent  two  rooms  on 
the  second  floor  of  the  Masonic  Building  on  Court 
Street.  Thus  for  two  years  the  public  meetings  of  the 
Society  were  held  in  the  commodious  and  attractive 
Williams  lyibrary,  thereby  laying  us  under  lasting 
obligation  to  the  Divinity  School  for  housing  a  home- 
less wanderer  so  willingly  and  so  comfortably.  The 
first  meeting  in  the  new  quarters  was  in  July,  1905. 
But  these  rooms,  so  contracted  and  unsuited  to  our 
needs,   were  not  destined  to  be  a  permanent  abiding 


place.  On  the  20th  of  April,  1906,  the  president 
received  a  communication  from  Mrs.  Margaret  Sill 
Hubbard,  offering  to  present  to  the  Society  her  ances- 
tral homestead  for  its  use  as  headquarters  for  its 
gatherings  and  its  possessions.  The  offer  also  included 
the  services  of  a  janitor  for  the  space  of  one  year  or 
longer.  This  magnanimous  proposal  was  accepted  by 
a  rising  vote  of  the  thirty-two  members  who  were 
present  at  a  special  meeting  on  May  first.  At  the 
next  regular  meeting,  May  15,  Messrs.  W.  B.  Hubbard, 
H.  C.  Whittlesey,  and  W.  F.  Burrows  were  appointed 
a  house  committee,  for  the  oversight  of  the  structure 
thus  put  into  the  Society's  hands.  Later  Mrs.  W.  B. 
Hubbard  and  Miss  Mariana  Townsend  were  added  to 
this  committee. 

The  formal  transfer  of  the  property  was  made  soon 
after  its  acceptance  b}-  the  Society,  and  possession  was 
at  once  given.  Our  archives  and  our  other  treasures 
were  directly  deposited  and  arranged  in  the  various 
rooms  of  this  edifice,  so  that  they  can  now  be  readily 
inspected  and  cared  for.  The  rich  collection  of  war 
relics,  which  had  been  previously  given  to  us,  though 
still  kept  in  the  Russell  Library,  was  moved  to  our 
upper  rooms,  where  they  are  so  disposed  as  to  appear 
to  excellent  advantage.  Numerous  additions  have  since 
been  made  to  this  invaluable  department,  while  many 
articles  have  been  placed  in  it  as  loans.  The  sincere 
gratitude  of  the  Society  is  due  to  the  collectors  of  this 
interesting  museum  for  their  generous  transfer  of  it 
to  us. 

Such  was  the  liberality  of  our  large-hearted  bene- 
factress that  she  was  not  content  with  presenting  to 
us  this  capacious  house  with  its  ample  grounds,  but 


10 

her  gift  included  carpets,  curtains,  book-cases  and 
books,  pictures,  and  fixtures,  all  of  value  to  us.  Coal 
for  the  next  two  seasons,  and  the  repainting  of  the 
exterior  of  the  house  the  following  summer,  were  also 
contributed  by  her  ever-open  hand.  Not  a  few  costly 
volumes  had  come  to  our  shelves  from  her  before  this 
principal  donation.  In  short,  we  had  learned  to  regard 
Mrs.  Hubbard  as  the  patron  saint  of  our  organization, 
and  we  do  not  cease  to  deplore  her  untimely  loss  to  us 
and  to  the  community  of  which  she  was  so  useful  a 
member.  The  beautiful  tablet  erected  to  her  memory 
in  the  autumn  of  last  year  by  individuals  in  our  Society 
is  a  fitting  recognition  of  her  unfailing  loyalty  to  us. 

Our  first  meeting  in  these  rooms  was  held  June  19, 
1906,  since  which  time  all  our  meetings  have  been  here, 
with  the  exception  of  one  held  in  Say  brook,  September 
29,  1908,  in  conjunction  with  the  Middlesex  Conference 
of  Congregational  Churches,  to  commemorate  the  two 
hundredth  anniversary  of  the  framing  of  the  Saybrook 
Platform.  One  of  the  papers  on  this  memorable  occa- 
sion was  read  by  a  member  of  our  Societ)^  whom  we 
delight  to  honor,  Dr.  Samuel  Hart,  and  the  other  by 
a  native  of  our  county,  Dr.  Lewellyn  Pratt.  This 
precedent  was  so  entirely  successful  as  to  justify  our 
meeting  at  other  historic  .spots,  should  the  way  open 
for  us. 

At  the  regular  meeting  in  December,  1906,  the  resig- 
nation of  Mr.  Elliott  as  treasurer  was  read,  and  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  confer  with  him,  with  the  hope 
that  he  might  be  induced  to  continue  in  the  office. 
He  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  change  his  purpose 
to  retire,  so  that  at  the  next  meeting  his  resignation 
was  accepted.     Mr.  Elliott  had  been  from  the  first  one 


of  our  most  zealous  members,  being  deeply  interested 
in  our  aims,  and  working  heartily  to  help  us  realize 
them,  so  that  in  his  withdrawal  we  lost  a  valued  and 
an  efficient  member.  At  the  next  annual  meeting  Mr. 
George  A.  Craig  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Near  the  end  of  the  year  1906,  also,  an  arrangement 
was  made  with  the  Wadsworth  Chapter  of  the  Daughters 
of  the  American  Revolution,  in  accordance  with  which 
they  were  to  have  the  exclusive  use  of  the  two  east 
rooms  on  the  first  floor  of  this  house,  together  with  the 
use  of  the  other  rooms  at  the  time  of  their  public  meet- 
ings. This  agreement  is  still  in  force,  though  with 
some  change  in  its  conditions.  Many  of  the  gather- 
ings of  this  worthy  Chapter  are  held  under  this  roof, 
and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  us  to  feel  that  our  excellent 
facilities  are  emplo^^ed  for  purposes  so  high  as  those  of 
this  conspicuous  organization.  Whatever  develops 
interest  in  our  history  as  a  nation,  and  the  spirit  of 
loyalty  to  our  institutions  is  in  line  with  the  ideas  on 
which  our  own  Society  is  founded.  We  cannot  but 
wish  there  were  also  in  Middletown  a  strong  branch 
of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 

In  addition  to  the  meeting  of  the  Society  in  Saybrook, 
to  which  reference  has  before  been  made,  the  year  1908 
was  marked  by  the  death  of  one  of  our  charter  mem- 
bers, w4io  had  devoted  no  little  time  and  labor  to  our 
welfare,  Mr.  Walter  B.  Hubbard.  An  estimate  of  his 
character  and  services  to  us  is  contained  in  pamphlet 
No.  6  of  our  publications.  Suffice  it  to  say  here,  that  no 
member  of  this  Society  was  better  qualified  by  lineage, 
by  native  gifts,  and  by  training,  to  further  all  our  en- 
deavors than  Mr.  Hubbard.  Loyal  as  he  was  to  his 
birthplace  and  his  kindred,  schooled  as  he  was  in  all 


that  refined  knowledge  so  essential  to  the  prosperity 
of  an  institution  like  this,  ready  as  he  was  to  give  his 
careful  thought,  his  cultivated  talents,  and  his  energetic 
efforts,  to  our  upbuilding,  his  loss  was  an  irreparable 
one  to  us. 

The  last  days  of  the  same  3'ear  were  shadowed  by 
the  illness  and  death  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Sill  Hubbard, 
who  had  contributed  so  materially  to  our  progress. 
Our  pamphlet  No.  7  has  a  brief  appreciation  of  her, 
especially  in  her  relations  to  us,  while  the  comely  tablet 
in  our  hall  will  long  abide  as  a  testimonial  of  our  grati- 
tude for  her  eminent  favors  to  us,  as  well  as  of  our 
profound  sense  of  loss  in  her  departure  from  earth 
when  in  the  full  tide  of  her  sympathetic  munificence 
to  us  and  to  our  community.  The  year  1908  also  took 
from  us  Mr.  Thomas  M.  Durfee,  Mr.  James  H.  Bunce, 
and  Mr.  Clarence  E.  Bacon,  the  last  two  of  whom  were 
among  our  original  members,  and  all  of  whom  were 
men  whose  names  were  an  honor  to  our  roll,  and  whom 
the  city  could  poorly  afford  to  spare. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1909,  Mr.  Richard  C. 
Fagan  was  chosen  treasurer,  in  place  of  Mr.  George 
A.  Craig,  whose  many  other  duties  compelled  him  to 
relinqui-sh  the  office.  In  December  of  this  year  the 
Society  was  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  the  Hon.  Josiah 
Meigs  Hubbard,  whose  sturdy  character,  whose  ripe 
wisdom,  and  whose  able  papers,  had  been  a  source 
of  strength  to  us.  During  the  summer  of  this  year 
Miss  Alice  Hotchkiss,  the  accomplished  assistant  sec- 
retary, resigned,  as  she  was  soon  to  be  absent  from  the 
city,  and  Miss  Frances  Pelton  was  obtained  as  her  suc- 
cessor. Miss  Hotchkiss  filled  the  position  with  rare 
fidelity  and  skill,  and  her  services  were  highly  prized 


13 

by  those  who  knew  their  worth.  Her  successor  is 
revealing  pecuHar  quaUfications  for  the  work  she  has 
in  hand. 

The  visit  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  the 
Honorable  William  H.  Taft,  to  our  city  in  November, 
1909,  will  long  be  remembered  by  our  Society  by 
reason  of  its  special  relation  to  us.  The  George  Wash- 
ington Chair,  which  is  one  of  our  priceless  treasures, 
seemed  to  be  the  only  one  in  Middletown  suited  to  the 
massive  form  of  the  President.  It  was  occupied  b}- 
him  during  the  day  of  the  inauguration  of  Dr.  William 
Arnold  Shanklin  as  President  of  the  Universit3^  It 
now  wears  a  silver  plate  commemorative  of  this  pleas- 
ing fact,  as  well  as  of  its  original  ownership. 

The  first  month  of  19 10  was  darkened  by  the  sudden 
death  of  Miss  Jennie  M.  Clarke,  also  one  of  our  charter 
members,  a  contributor  to  our  permanent  fund,  and  a 
frequent  donor  of  books,  pamphlets,  and  pictures  to  our 
collection.  She  was  often  at  our  meetings,  and  she  re- 
joiced in  all  tokens  of  prosperity  which  the  Society 
exhibited.  A  fuller  notice  of  this  unusual  woman  is 
printed  in  pamphlet  No.  8  of  our  documents. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  last  year,  Mr.  H.  C. 
Whittlesey,  who  had  been  the  faithful  secretary  since 
1903,  felt  compelled  by  a  pressure  of  other  obligations 
to  decline  a  reelection.  This  fact  caused  genuine 
regret  to  all  our  members.  Mr.  Whittlesey,  by  his 
ability,  his  education,  liberal  through  varied  studies 
and  wide  experience  in  travel  and  residence  in  other 
lands,  by  his  social  position,  his  genial  bearing,  and 
his  finished  penmanship  withal,  was  exceptionally 
qualified  to  be  the  secretary  of  this  organization.  He 
had  proved  himself  to  be  the  ideal  man  for  the  office, 


u 

having  been  a  leading  factor  in  raising  the  Society  to 
its  present  standing.  Many  arguments  and  much  per- 
suasion were  brought  to  bear  upon  him  to  change  his 
purpose,  but  without  avail.  A  month  later,  after  a 
thorough  canvass  of  the  situation,  the  Society  deemed 
itself  fortunate  in  securing  the  consent  of  Mr.  E.  H. 
Wilkins  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  he  was  unanimously 
elected  in  May.  In  the  same  month  Dr.  Hart  and  the 
President  represented  the  Society  as  delegates  to  an 
Arbitration  and  Peace  Congress  in  Hartford. 

On  July  the  fourth  last,  the  rooms  of  the  Society 
were  opened  to  the  public  for  the  first  time,  for  a  Recep- 
tion from  the  hour  of  ten  in  the  morning  to  that  of 
four  in  the  afternoon. 

The  large  number  of  persons  passing  through  them 
on  this  occasion,  nearly  two  hundred,  the  surprise  and 
satisfaction  they  expressed  in  view  of  what  riches  we 
already  possess,  led  to  the  conviction  that  we  must 
arrange  as  soon  as  possible  for  frequent  visits  to  our 
home.  We  are  here  not  for  ourselves,  but  for  the 
people  of  our  own  time,  and  for  those  who  come  after 
us.  The  more  intimate  acquaintance  our  citizens  have 
with  us,  the  more  likely  they  will  be  to  ally  themselves 
with  us,  and  to  place  in  our  keeping  those  relics  of  the 
past  which  it  is  our  desire  to  obtain  for  preservation 
and  for  exhibition. 

Two  of  our  members  died  since  our  last  annual  meet- 
ing, Mrs.  Horace  F.  Boardman  and  Cephas  Brainerd, 
Esq.  Next  to  the  estate  of  Mr.  Wilcox,  Mrs.  Board- 
man  was  the  largest  contributor  to  our  endowment 
fund,  and  she  always  took  a  deep  interest  in  our  pro- 
ceedings. A  native  of  Middletown.  she  rejoiced  in 
whatever    aided    its    advancement.        Her    heart    was 


15 

capacious,  leading  her  to  multitudes  of  beneficent 
deeds  known  to  few  besides  herself.  Her  too  early 
departure  created  a  void  in  our  city  which  will  not 
soon  be  filled. 

Mr.  Brainerd,  though  in  the  practice  of  law  in  New 
York,  kept  his  summer  home  in  Haddam,  the  place  of 
his  birth,  for  which  he  cherished  the  fondness  of  a 
loyal  son.  He  .sent  a  number  of  books  to  our  Society, 
and  occasionally  wrote  us  about  others  which  we 
might  have  a  wish  to  purchase.  He  gave  us  one 
entertaining  address  upon  ' '  Some  Lawyers  and  Cases 
in  Middlesex  County."  In  the  midst  of  an  engrossing 
profession,  he  found  time  for  self -culture  and  for 
philanthropic  labors,  especially  in  connection  with  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  of  the  world,  for 
whose  grand  work  he  had  a  warm  regard. 

Our  Society  has  to-daj-  1 1 1  members,  eleven  of 
whom  are  life-members.  It  has  nearly  1900  volumes 
in  its  library,  some  of  which  are  of  inestimable  value. 
Its  pamphlets  are  above  500,  a  few  of  which  are  very 
rare.  It  has  published  only  eight  pamphlets  of  its 
own,  aU  of  which  pertain  to  its  history  and  its  posses- 
sions. It  is  looking  forward  to  the  day  when  it  may 
be  able  to  issue  some  of  the  papers  which  are  read 
before  it,  many  of  which  are  extremel}'  valuable  and 
altogether  worthy  of  seeing  the  light.  Ninety  meet- 
ings have  been  held  in  the  decade,  at  which  a  quorum 
of  at  least  seven  has  been  present.  The  president  has 
been  absent  from  only  five  of  these.  Only  five  meet- 
ings have  been  called  at  which  a  quorum  was  lacking. 
The  average  attendance  at  our  business  meetings  has 
been  about  twelve,  while  that  at  the  public  meetings 
has  been  not  far  from  twenty-five.      Addresses  have 


been  given  at  sixty-eight  of  our  meetings,  many  of 
them  by  persons  of  eminence  in  the  commonwealth. 
For  instance,  three  have  been  given  to  us  by  the 
present  governor  of  the  State,  and  one  by  a  former 
governor.  Professors  Woolsey  and  Smith,  of  Yale 
University,  have  each  given  us  two  papers,  Dr.  Hart 
five.  Dr.  Dutcher  four.  Professor  Winchester  one, 
Hon.  Josiah  M.  Hubbard  two,  Albert  R.  Crittenden 
one,  F.  F.  Starr  one.  President  Luther  and  Professor 
Gettell,  of  Trinity  College,  one  each,  Dr.  Charles 
Ray  Palmer,  of  New  Plaven,  and  Dr.  Edwin  Pond 
Parker,  of  Hartford,  one  each,  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Hooper,  of  Durham,  two,  Professor  Curtis  M.  Geer, 
of  the  Hartford  Seminary,  one,  and  Ex-Governor 
Coffin  one.  These  persons  and  many  others,  here  and 
elsewhere,  have  rendered  us  willing  and  acceptable 
service  along  differing  lines  of  research.  Many  of 
their  productions  were  such  as  our  citizens  rarely  have 
an  opportunity  to  hear,  so  that  the  Society  confers  no 
small  benefit  upon  them  in  bringing  addresses  so  not- 
able within  their  reach. 

Thus,  far  too  hurriedly  and  too  imperfectly  told, 
runs  the  story  of  the  first  decade  of  the  Middlesex 
County  Historical  Society.  Begun  as  an  experiment, 
its  future  is  no  longer  doubtful.  Begun  in  weakness, 
it  has  developed  manly  strength.  Begun  as  a  hope,  it 
is  now  an  actual  and  a  promising  reality. 

It  has  long  been  the  desire  of  your  president  to  lay 
down  the  burden,  accepted  temporarily  at  the  outset, 
but  carried  for  the  decade.  Nothing  but  the  kind 
pressure  of  his  friends  prevents  him  from  now  asking 
to  be  released.  The  evident  success  of  the  Society 
thus  far  is  by  no  means  /lis  success.      It  is  that  of  the 


17 

members  who  have  stood  by  our  enterprise  with  zeal 
so  unflagging  and  courage  so  heroic.  It  would  be 
pleasant  to  recite  the  names  of  all,  but  just  recogni- 
tion, beyond  that  already  accorded  to  several,  should 
be  made  of  the  helpful  ser\'ices  of  Governor  Weeks  and 
Mrs.  Weeks,  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Burrows  and  his  brother, 
of  Mr.  F.  F.  Starr,  of  Mr.  C.  A.  Pelton,  of  Mr.  J.  H. 
Sage,  of  Mr.  C.  S.  Wadsworth,  of  Mr.  W.  W.  Wilcox, 
of  Miss  Lyman,  of  Miss  Oilman,  of  Mrs.  W.  B.  Hubbard 
and  Miss  Townsend  on  the  house  committee,  of  Miss 
Roberts  and  Miss  Selden,  all  of  whom,  and  many 
others,  have  manifested  their  fidelity  to  us  by  their 
words  and  their  deeds.  Thanks,  manifold,  to  all  who 
have  enlisted  under  our  banner.  It  will  soon  be  the 
lot  of  others  to  carry  it,  and  we  cannot  think  they  will 
allow  it  to  go  down. 


^«b;rrtB  of  AJj&rpaapH  ma&f  to  tl|r  ^nrirty 

BJitli  lljrir  Baits,  anb  tlje  Namea  nf  X^tXx  Autbora 


The  Work  and  Plans  of  an  Historical  Society,  December  17, 
1901:  Professor  Samuel  Hart,  D.  D.,  D.  C.  L.,  of  the  Berkeley 
Divinity  School. 

Roger  Sherman,  February  18,  1902:  Hon.  Simeon  E. 
Baldwin,  L,L.  D.,  New  Haven. 

The  Work  and  Needs  of  an  Historical  Society,  April  22, 
1902:     Dr.  Hart. 

Manufacture  of  and  Payment  for  the  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson 
Sword,  June  17,  1902:     Mr.  Frank  F.  Starr,  Middletown. 

The  Part  of  Women  in  Founding  Oxford  and  Cambridge 
Universities,  October  21,  1902:  the  Rev.  Lewis  W.  Hicks, 
Wellesley,  Mass. 


18 

Dr.  Leonard  Bacon,  January  20,  1903:  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Anderson,  D.  D.,  Waterbury. 

Some  of  the  Causes  that  led  to  the  War  of  1812,  February  17, 
1903:     the  Rev.  Richmond  Fisk,  D.  D.,  Middletown. 

Connecticut  in  the  Revolution,  March  17,  1903:  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Hooper,  Durham. 

The  Case  of  the  First  Elijah  Hubbard  and  the  Brig  Mary, 
April  21,  1903:     Hon.  Elijah  K.  Hubbard,  Middletown. 

The  Navigation  of  Connecticut  River,  May  19,  1903:  the 
Rev.  William  D.  Love,  Ph.  D.,  Hartford. 

Abigail  Adams,  Wife  of  the  Second  President  of  the  United 
States,  June  16,  1903:     Miss  Anna  L.  Smith,  Middletown. 

Dolly  Madison,  Wife  of  the  Fourth  President,  October  20, 
1903:     Mrs.  Edward  B.  Van  Vleck,  Middletown. 

Connecticut  Gore  Land  Company,  November  17,  1903:  Mr. 
Albert  C.  Bates,  Hartford. 

Commodore  MacDonough  and  the  War  of  1812,  January  19, 
1904:     Miss  Emma  C.  Oilman,  Middletown. 

Stephen  Decatur,  February  16,  1904:  Professor  Charles  H. 
Smith,  LL.  D.,  Yale  University. 

The  Diary  of  a  Colonial  Churchman,  March  15,  1904:  Mrs. 
Elmer  G.  Derby,  Middletown. 

Address  by  the  President,  April  19,  1904. 

The  Investigation  of  the  Star  Route  Frauds,  May  17,  1904: 
P.  Henry  Woodward,  Esq.,  Hartford. 

A  Tory  Trail,  October  18,  1904:  the  Rev.  Edward  O. 
Grisbrook,  Poquonnock. 

Patrick  Henry,  November  15,  1904:  Miss  Anna  L.  Smith, 
Middletown. 

Kepler,  December  20,  1904:  President  Flavel  S.  Luther, 
LL.  D.,  Trinity  College. 

The  State  of  Franklin,  February  21,  1905:  Professor  Curtis 
M.  Geer,  Ph.D.,  Hartford  Theological  Seminary. 


19 

Old  Letters  and  Manuscripts,  March  21,  1905:  Mr.  Charles 
E.  Jackson,  Middletown. 

Address  by  the  President,  April  18,  1905. 

The  Life  and  Work  of  Thomas  Hooker,  May  16,  1905:  Judge 
Epaphroditus  Peck,  Bristol. 

The  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  October  17,  1905:  Col.  Francis 
Parsons,  Hartford. 

The  Last  Years  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  November  21, 
1905:     Mr.  Benjamin  P.  Adams,  Wesleyan  University. 

Connecticut  during  the  Revolution,  December  19,  1905:  Mr. 
William  G.  Murphy,  Jr.,  Wesleyan  University. 

Benjamin  Franklin,  the  Man  and  his  Work,  January  16,  1906: 
Professor  George  M.  Butcher,  Ph.  D.,  Wesleyan  University. 

The  Meigs  Family  in  America,  March  20,  1906:  Hon.  Josiah 
M.  Hubbard,  Middletown. 

Yale  College  in  Saybrook,  April  17,  1906:  Dr.  Hart. 

The  Career  of  Gideon  Welles,  1802-1878,  November  20,  1906: 
Mr.  Henry  B.  Learned,  M.  A.,  New  Haven. 

The  Origin  of  Place  Names  in  Connecticut,  December  18, 
1906:  Professor  William  E.  Mead,  Ph.  D.,  Wesleyan  University. 

The  American  Historical  Association  and  its  Work,  January 
I5>  1907-     Professor  Dutcher. 

Two  Centuries  and  a  Half  of  Farm  Life  in  Middletown, 
April  16,  1907:  Hon.  Josiah  M.  Hubbard. 

The  Hudson  Bay  Company,  May  21,  1907:  Professor  Theodore 
S.  Woolsey,  LL.D.,  Yale  University. 

The  Development  of  Public  Libraries  within  the  Bounds  of 
the  Old  New  Haven  Colony,  illustrated,  June  18,  1907:  Profes- 
sor Henry  M.  Whitney,  of  the  Blackstone  Library,  Branford. 

Connecticut,  1789-1809,  October  15,  1907:  Mr.  Ernest  A. 
Inglis,  Wesleyan  University. 

Connecticut  in  Pennsylvania,  November  19,  1907:  Judge 
Baldwin. 


John  Greenleaf  Whittier,  December  ry,  1907,  the  hundredth 
anniversary  of  his  birth:  Professor  Caleb  T.  Winchester, 
L.  H.  D.,  Wesleyan  University. 

The  History  of  the  Common  Schools  of  Connecticut,  January 
21,  1908:  Dr.  Hart. 

The  Rev.  Eleazar  May,  Pastor  in  Haddam  from  1756  to  1S03, 
February  18,  1908:  the  Rev.  Bert  F.  Case,  Middle  Haddam. 

The  Enlightened  Despotism,  a  Study  of  Europe  in  the  Days 
of  the  War  for  American  Independence,  March  17,  1908:  Pro- 
fessor Dutcher. 

Henry  Clay  Work,  His  Life  and  Writings,  April  21,  1908: 
Mr.  Samuel  W.  Loper,  M.  A.,  Curator  of  the  Museum  of  Wes- 
leyan University. 

A  History  of  Immigration  to  the  United  States,  May  19,  1908: 
Professor  Raymond  G.  Gettell,  Trinity  College. 

Some  Lawyers  and  Cases  in  Middlesex  County,  October  20, 
1908:  Cephas  Brainerd,  Esq.,  New  York. 

Noah  Webster,  November  17,  1908:  Mr.  William  R.  Cross, 
of  the  Hartford  Courant. 

The  Currency  of  our  Fathers,  December  15,  190S:  Hon. 
Albert  R.  Crittenden,  Middletown. 

Edgar  Allan  Poe,  January  19,  1909,  the  hundredth  anniver- 
sary of  his  birth:  Professor  Robert  H.  Fife,  Jr.,  Ph.  D.,  Wes- 
leyan University. 

The  Religious  Character  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  February  16, 
1909,  Professor  Smith,  of  Yale  University  (read  by  the  President 
of  the  Society). 

The  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Shipman,  March  16,  1909:  Arthur  L. 
Shipman,  Esq.,  Hartford. 

Address  by  the  President,  April  20,  1909. 

The  Old  Farmington  Canal,  May  18,  1909:  Julius  Ga}-,  Esq., 
Farmington. 

William  Hooke,  the  First  Pastor  and  Teacher  of  the  First 
Church  in  New  Haven,  October  19,  1909:  the  Rev.  Charles 
R.  Palmer,  D.  D.,  New  Haven. 


21 

The  Gentler  Aspects  of  Puritan  Life,  December  21,  1909:  the 
Rev.  Edwin  P.  Parker,  D.  D.,  Hartford. 

Fitch,  French,  and  Fulton,  illustrated,  February  22,  1910: 
Ex-Governor  O.  Vincent  Coffin,  LL.  D.,  Middletown. 

The  Seal  of  Connecticut,  March  15,  1910:  Judge  Baldwin. 

Address  by  the  President,  April  19,  1910. 

The  Children,  Manners,  and  Customs  of  Old  New  England, 
May  17,  1910:  Mrs.  J.  William  Bailey,  Middletown. 

The  Achievements  and  Death  of  George  Augustus,  Lord 
Viscount  Howe,  1724-1758,  June  21,  1910:  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Hooper,  Durham. 

Lydia  Buckland,  a  Colonial  Dame  of  the  Seventeenth  Cen- 
tury, October  18,  1910:  Francis  Parker,  Esq.,  Hartford. 

An  American  Vasari,  November  15,  1910:  Professor  Woolsey. 

Some  Early  Glimpses  of  Hartford,  December  20,  1910:  Dr. 
Hart. 

An  Old  New  Haven  Engraver  and  his  Work,  January  17, 
191 1 :  the  Rev.  William  A.  Beardsley,  New  Haven. 

George  Washington,  February  21,  191 1:  Professor  Dutcher. 

Negro  Slavery  in  Connecticut,  March  21,  1911:  Mr.  Frederick 
C.  Norton,  Bristol. 

The  above  is  a  list  of  many  prominent  names  in  the 
commonwealth.  Not  a  few  of  the  topics  discussed  by 
them  were  timely,  and  of  practical  value.  The  Society 
has  surely  been  highly  honored  by  the  persons  who 
have  appeared  before  it  with  their  words  of  instruction 
and  inspiration.  Several  of  the  papers  presented  to 
the  Society  are  already  in  its  archives,  either  in  manu- 
script or  in  print.  It  is  hoped  that  others  may  come 
into  its  possession  in  due  season. 


BnviUvvfB  Annual  IS^pcrt 


To  the  President  and  Members  of  the  Society: 

In  accordance  with  our  by-laws,  I  beg  to  submit 
the  Secretary's  annual  report  for  the  year  ending 
April  i8,  191 1. 

MEETINGS 
Regular  monthly  meetings  of  the  Society  have  been 
held  throughout  the  year,  with  the  exception  of  the 
months  of  July,  August,  and  September.  The  meet- 
ings have  all  been  held  at  the  Society's  building, 
corner  of  Union  and  Crescent  Streets;  and  at  the  close 
of  the  business  session  of  each  of  these  meetings,  a 
paper  of  local  or  general  interest  was  presented.  In 
the  address  of  the  President,  pubhshed  on  preceding 
pages,  will  be  found  a  list  of  the  dates,  subjects,  and 
speakers. 

MEMBERSHIP 

The  total  membership  is  one  hundred  and  eleven,  or 
two  less  than  it  was  one  year  ago. 

Two  new  members  were  admitted  during  the  year, 
while  three  former  members  have  died  and  one  has 
resigned. 

PUBLICATIONS 

Pamphlet  No.  8,  being  the  annual  report  of  the 
officers,  uniform  with  the  preceding  numbers. 


GENERAL 

During  the  year,  a  number  of  gifts,  consisting  of 
books,  pamphlets,  maps,  letters,  documents,  engrav- 
ings, etc.,  have  been  presented  to  the  Society.  All 
such  are  recorded  in  the  Accession  Register.  A  card 
catalogue  of  books  and  pamphlets  is  in  process  of 
compilation. 

The  demand  for  more  shelving  has  been  partially 
met  by  the  construction  of  an  open  cabinet  of  large 
capacity,  especially  designed  for  the  storage  of  news- 
papers and  books. 

During  the  year,  the  memorial  tablet  to  the  late 
Mrs.  Margaret  Sill  Hubbard  has  been  completed  and 
set  in  place  in  the  Society's  building.  The  tablet  is 
remarkable  for  its  beauty  of  design  and  finish,  and  is  a 
fitting  form  of  memorial  to  the  generous  benefactress 
of  this  Society.  Great  credit  is  due  Rev.  A.  W.  Hazen, 
Mr.  Wm.  H.  Burrows  and  Mrs.  W.  B.  Hubbard,  the 
committee  who  had  this  matter  in  charge. 

E.  H.  WiLKiNS,  Secretary. 


21^ 


©r^aHurpr'B  Annual  E^^jort 


APRI  L    17,  191 


Richard  C.  Fagan,  Treasurer,  in  accotmt  with 

The  Middlesex  County  Historicai,  Society: 

Dr. 

To  balance  April  i6,  1910, I267  29 

To  dues  collected,        -        -        -        -        -        -        -  177  00 

To  rent  received  from  Wadsworth  Chapter,  D.  A.  R.,  50  00 
To  contribution  received  for  Margaret  Sill  Hubbard 

Memorial  Fund,    - 62  00 

To  coupons,  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain,  and  Southern 

R.  R., 80  00 

$636  29 
Cr. 

By  expenses  of  speakers,    '------  I5  00 

By  historical  books,     -------  3  00 

By  coal  and  wood,        -- 100 

By  gas,           ---------  4  25 

By  water,      -         - -         -  10  00 

By  repairs  to  building, 31  77 

By  clerical  work,          -------  4  50 

By  postage  and  stationery,           -        -         -        -        -  17  50 

By  printing, -         -         .  58  50 

By  furnishings  and  supplies  for  house,       -         -        -  31  85 

By  street  sprinkling, -  9  15 

By  Wm.  H.  Burrows,  account  Margaret  Sill  Hubbard 

Memorial, -         -  193  00 

By  balance,  cash  in  First  National  Bank,  -         -        -  266  77 

$636  29 


S5 

Investments 
2  bonds,  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  &  Southern  R.  R. 

Co., 

*2  bonds,  Buffalo  &  Susquehanna  R.  R.  Co.,     - 
Cash  in  Middletown  Savings  Bank,    -         -         -         - 
Cash  in  Farmers  and  Mechanics  Savings  Bank, 
Cash  in  Freestone  Savings  Bank,  Portland, 

l7,077  34 
*  The  Buffalo  &  Susquehanna  Railroad  Co.  have  defaulted 
interest  on  the  bonds  owned  by  this  Society.  The  said  bonds, 
on  recommendation  of  the  finance  committee  of  the  Society 
have  been  deposited  with  the  Equitable  Trust  Co.  of  New 
York  under  a  reorganization  agreement. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Richard  C.  Fagan,  Treasurer. 


|2,000 

00 

2,000 

00 

1,397 

62 

839 

35 

840 

37 

Examined  and  found  correct. 

Wm.  J.  deMauriac,  Auditor. 
April  17,  1911. 


WmavB 


ELECTED   APRI  L    18.  191 


PRESIDENT 

AzEL  W.  Hazen, -        -  Middletown 

VICE-PRESI  DENTS 

Albert  R.  Crittenden,     -----  Middletown 

John  H.  Sage,      -------  Portland 

SECRETARY 

Edward  H.  Wilkins,          .        -        -        -        .  Middletown 

TREASURER 

Richard  C.  Fagan, Middletown 

EXECUTIVE   COMMITTEE 

The  President,  The  Secretary, 

The  Vice-Presidents,  The  Treasurer, 

Samuei.  Hart, Middletown 

Frank  F.  Starr,          ------  Middletown 

George  M.  Dutcher,          .        -        .        .        .  Middletown 

MEMBERSHIP   COMMITTEE 

Heman  C.  Whittlesey, Middletown 

Charles  A.  PelTon, Middletown 

Edwin  P.  Augur,          ----..  Middletown 

Frank  F.  Starr, Middletown 

Wilbur  F.  Burrows,  ------  Middletown 


27 

FINANCE   COMMITTEE 

William  H.  Burrows, Middletown 

Wallace  K.  Bacon,    ------  Middletown 

John  H.  Sage,      -------  Portland 

HOUSE    COMMITTEE 

Frank  B.  Weeks, Middletown 

Wilbur  F.  Burrows,  ------  Middletown 

Heman  C.  Whittlesey, Middletown 

Mrs.  Walter  B.  Hubbard,        .        -        .        .  Middletown 

Miss  Mariana  Townsend,        .        .        .        -  Middletown 

AUDITOR 

William  J.  deMauriac,      -----  Middletown 


28 


^xU'Mtmhtvs 


Hon.  Albert  R.  Crittenden,  - 
Mrs.  Albert  R.  Crittenden,  - 
Rev.  Azel  W.  Hazen,  D.  D.,     - 
Mrs.  Azel  W.  Hazen, 
Mrs.  Walter  B.  Hubbard, 
William  G.  Mather, 
Heman  C.  Whittlesey,  B.  A.,  - 
Mrs.  Heman  C.  Whittlesey,    - 
Mrs.  William  W.  Wilcox, 
Mrs.  William  W.  Wilcox,  Jr., 
William  W.  Wilcox,  B.  A., 


•     Middletown 

■  Middletown 
Middletown 

■  Middletown 
Middletown 

Cleveland,  O. 
Middletown 
Middletown 
Middletown 
Middletown 
Middletown 


m^mbrra 


Joseph  W.  Alsop,         --....  Simsbury 

Edwin  P.  Augur,         ------  Middletown 

Samuel  Babcock, -  Middletown 

Wallace  K.  Bacon,     ------  Middletown 

Abner  a.  Bevin,  -----         East  Hampton 

Judson  B.  Brainerd, Portland 

William  B.  Brewer,           -        -        -        .        .  Middletown 

Robert  Broatch,        ------  Middletown 

Mrs.  James  H.  Bunce,         -----  Middletown 

James  H.  Bunce,  -------  Middletown 

Robert  W.  Burke,      ------  Middletown 

Eugene  H.  Burr,        ------  Middletown 

Wilbur  F.  Burrows,  ------  Middletown 

William  H.  Burrows,         -----  Middletown 

Dale  D.  Butler,          ------  Middletown 


J.  Francis  Calef,  M.  D.,    -        -        -        -        -    Middletown 
W.  Harry  Ci^emons,  M.  A.,        -        -        -      Princeton,  N.  J. 

Edward  S.  Coe, -        Cromwell 

Ex-Governor  O.  Vincent  Coffin,  LL.  D.,    -    Middletown 
Augustus  H.  Conkun,        .        .        .        .        East  Hampton 

George  A.  Craig,        ------     Middletown 

Charles  W.  Cramer, Portland 

Mrs.  Charles  W.  Dabney,         -        -        -       Dedham,  Mass. 

Eddie  S.  Davis,    -        - Middletown 

William  J.  deMauriac,      -----    Middletown 
Mrs.  William  J.  deMauriac,    -        -        -        -     Middletown 

Richard  L.  deZeng, Middletown 

Professor  George  M.  Butcher,  Ph.D.,        -    Middletown 

Richard  C.  Pagan, Middletown 

Edward  B.  Fall,         ------  Middletown 

John  L.  Fisk,        .----..  Middletown 

Henry  H.  Francis,     ------  Middletown 

Edward  A.  Gladwin,          -----  Middletown 

Frederick  E.  Gibbons, Middletown 

Ferdinand  Gildersleeve,        -        .        -        .  Portland 

Oliver  Gildersleeve,      -----  Portland 

Miss  Emma  C.  Gilman,       .        .        -        .        -  Middletown 

Archibald  C.  Goodrich,   -----  Portland 

Frederick  W.  Goodrich,           -        -        -        -  Portland 

Robert  S.  Griswold,           -----  Cromwell 

James  K.  Guy,      -------  Middletown 

Hon.  Frank  D.  Haines,     -----  Middletown 

Asaph  H.  Hale, Portland 

David  A.  Hall, Portland 

Stephen  S.  Hall, -  Portland 

Frank  K.  Hallock,  M.  D.,         -        -        -        -  Cromwell 

Professor  Samuel  Hart,  D.D.,  D.C.L.,  LL.D.,  Middletown 

Miss  Frances  M.  Hazen,  M.  a.,        -         -         -  Middletown 

Lucius  R.  Hazen,  B.  A.       -        -        -        -        -  Middletown 

Miner  C.  Hazen,  M.  D.,     -        -        -        -        -  Haddam 

E.  Dyer  Hubbard,      ------  Middletown 

Hon.  Elijah  K.  Hubbard,         .        -        .        -  Middletown 

E.  Kent  Hubbard,  Jr.,  B.  A.,    -        -        -        -  Middletown 


30 

George  H.  Hulbert, New  London 

Charles  E.  Jackson,          -        -        -        -        -  Middletown 

Edward  Q.  Jackson, Middletown 

WiLi<iAM  J.  James,  M.  A., Middletown 

Alva  H.  Kelsey, Middletown 

Miss  Mary  E.  Lyman,       .        .        -        .        .  Middlefield 

Charles  E.  Lyman, Middlefield 

Henry  L.  Mansfield,        .        .        .        .        .  Middletown 

Ernest  A.  Markham,  M.  D.,     -        -        .        -  Durham 

Revilo  C.  Markham, Middletown 

Mrs.  Ellen  Mathewson, Durham 

G.  Ellsworth  Meech, Middletown 

Joseph  Merriam,         ------  Middletown 

Hon.  Lyman  A.  Mills, Middlefield 

William  Mylchreest,       -----  Middletown 

Isaac  G.  Newell,        - Middletown 

Rev.  John  F.  Nichols, Portland 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Northrop,         -        -        -  Ivoryton 

Richard  H.  Pascall,          .        -        .        -        .  Portland 

Charles  A.  PelTON, Middletown 

William  D.  Penfield,        -----  Portland 

Wallace  Porter,        ------  Higganum 

Albert  E.  Purple,     ------  Moodus 

Mrs.  Susan  C.  Ray, Middletown 

Ex-Pres.  Bradford  P.  Raymond,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Middletown 

Professor  William  N.  Rice,  Ph.D.,  LL.  D.,  Middletown 

Miss  Mary  P.  Roberts,     -----  Middletown 

Hon.  Samuel  Russell,      -----  Middletown 

Samuel  Russell,  Jr., Middletown 

John  H.  Sage,       -------  Portland 

Philip  Sage, -        -  Portland 

Miss  Emily  A.  Selden,      -----  Middletown 

Frank  C.  Smith,          -.--.-  Middletown 

Mrs.  Otis  A.  Smith,    ------  Rockfall 

Frank  F.  Starr,          ------  Middletown 

Charles  O.  Stone, Middletown 


31 

Willis  E.  Terrill,     ------  Middletowu 

Mrs.  Anna  S.  Titcomb,       -        -        -        -  Springfield,  Mass. 

Miss  Mariana  Townsend,         .        -        -        -  Middletown 

Professor  John  M.  Van  Vleck,  LL.  D.,        -  Middletown 

Clarence  S.  Wadsworth,  B.  A.,  LL.  B.,          -  Middletown 

Henry  C.  Ward,         ------  Middletown 

Oliver  S.  WaTrous,  D.  D.  S.,    -        -        -        -  Middletown 

Ex-Governor  Frank  B.  Weeks,  LL.  D.,        -  Middletown 

Mrs.  Frank  B.  Weeks,       -----  Middletown 

William  S.  Wetherbee,    -----  Middletown 

Professor  Caleb  T.  Winchester,  L.  H.D.,  -  Middletown 

Edward  H.  Wilkins,         -----  Middletown 


ICiat  nf  Arltrka 

<3iontb  by  tiff  doriply  attJi  1ExI|tbilp&  In  ila  SutUiing 


1.  Photograph  of  Middletown  in  1868. 

2.  a,  b.  Photograph  of  residence  of  Commodore  Thomas 
MacDonough,  1819-1825,  demolished  in  1893,  and  replaced  by 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building. 

3.  Early  oil  painting  of  Middletown  by  Richard  W.  Hub- 
bard, a  native  of  Middletown. 

4.  Photographs  of  six  historic  homes  in  Middletown,  pre- 
pared for  the  Jamestown  Exposition,  1907. 

5.  a,  b,  c.  Photographs  of  old  First  Church  on  Main  Street, 
Middletown. 

6.  Collection  of  fashion-plates,  184S. 

7.  Indian  arrowheads,  bought  in  1907  at  Richmond,  Va. 

8.  Picture  of  Colonel  Return  Jonathan  Meigs  of  Middle- 
town,  who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.     1740-1823. 

9.  Epaulettes  of  Billings  Neff  of  Portland,  Lieutenant  of 
the  6th  Regiment,  Connecticut  Militia. 

10.  Sword  and  sash  of  Billings  Neff. 

11.  Framed  army  recruiting  poster,  October  24,  1861. 

12.  Engraving  of  Lady  Washington's  Reception,  "from 
the  original  picture  in  possession  of  A.  T.  Stewart,  Esq." 

13.  Key  to  No.  12. 

14.  Picture  of  Wolcott  Huntington  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  who 
married  Jane  E.  Watkinson  of  Middletown,  whose  home  was 
on  Main  Street. 

15.  Warrant  for  arrest  of  Caesar,  Negro,  for  "  Prophane 
Swearing,  threatening  and  contemptuous  language."  February 
20th,  1787. 

16.  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity  at  the  tomb  of  Washington. 

17.  Pencil  sketch  of  Captain  Alden  Partridge,  aged  40,  and 
of  the  American  Literarj^,  Scientific,  and  Military  Academy, 
Middletown,  1826. 


33 

i8.  Camp  chair  made  from  wood  of  old  elm  tree  under 
whose  branches  the  first  settlers  of  Middletown  commenced 
their  worship,  which  was  the  foundation  of  the  First  Church. 

19.  Photograph  of  Joseph  \V.  Alsop,  1804- 

20.  Framed  State  Democratic  ticket,  1839. 

21.  Framed  circular  with  sketches  of  lives  of  Democratic 
State  candidates,  1839. 

22.  Engraved  copperplate,  business  card,  Greenfield  & 
Phelps,  Middletown. 

23.  Cradle  from  estate  of  the  late  Charles  A.  Boardman  of 
Middletown,  1812-1907. 

24.  Engraving,  Daniel  Webster  addressing  the  Senate,  1850. 

25.  Key  to  No.  24. 

26.  Democratic  handbill,  1838. 

27.  Democratic  handbill,  1839. 

28.  Old  engraving  of  Capitol  at  Washington. 

29.  Framed  Middletown  Daily  News,  November  14,  1850, 

30.  Framed  Middlesex  Gazette,  May  13,  1809. 

31.  Old  engraving,  Last  Days  of  Webster  at  Marshfield. 

32.  Genealogy  of  the  Washington  family. 

33.  Framed  contract  drawn  by  Washington. 

34.  The  will  of  Mary  Washington.     Framed  printed  copy. 

35.  Lock  of  Washington's  hair,  given  by  his  servant,  Hamet 
Achmet,  to  Mrs.  S.  A.  Hart  of  Middletown  in  1840. 

36.  Oil  portrait  of  Jonathan  Barnes,  Esq.,  1789-1861. 

37.  Picture  of  the  Charter  Oak. 

38.  Confederate  button. 

39.  Foot-stove,  1780. 

40.  Picture  of  John  D.  Dickinson,  1768-1841,  Congressman 
from  New  York. 

41.  Photograph  of  Dr.  Charles  Woodward  of  Middletown, 
I 799-1 870. 

42.  Photograph  of  Charles  R.  Woodward  of  Middletown, 
1832-1904. 

43.  Photograph  of  Henry  Woodward  of  Middletown,  1838- 
1907. 

44.  Photograph  of  John  Hubbard  Watkinson. 

45.  Framed  manuscript  list  of  contributors  to  fund  for 
enclosing  burial  ground,  now  Riverside  Cemetery,  Middle- 
town,  1815. 


S4 

46.  Old  illustrated  design  of  Life  and  Ages  of  Man. 

47.  Old  picture  of  Rome. 

48.  Parsonage  on  High  Street,  near  head  of  College  Street, 
Middletown,  owned  and  occupied  by  Rev.  Enoch  Huntington, 
pastor  of  the  First  Church,  1762-1809.  Painted  by  Miss  Mar- 
garet M.  Van  Deursen. 

49.  Picture  of  Daniel  Webster. 

50.  Painting  of  house  of  Rev.  William  Russell,  pastor  of 
the  First  Church,  1715-1761. 

51.  Landscape  by  John  A.  Sumner  of  Middletown,  died  1899. 

52.  Landscape  by  John  A.  Sumner. 

53.  Poster  of  Hartford,  Providence  and  Boston  Mail  Line 
of  Post  Coaches. 

54.  Illuminated  parchment  and  seal. 

55.  Old  round  table. 

56.  Portrait  of  Dr.  Joseph  Barratt,  a  native  of  England, 
Professor  of  Botany,  Chemistry,  and  Mineralogy  in  the  A.  L. 
S.  and  M.  Academy  at  Norwich,  Vt.,  and  Middletown  from 
1824-1828,  afterwards  practising  physician  in  Middletown. 

57.  Photograph  of  Main  Street,  Middletown. 

58.  Portrait  of  Isaac  Hubbard  of  Middlefield. 

59.  Photograph  of  Gen.  Samuel  Holden  Parsons'  house. 
Main  Street,  Middletown,  foot  of  Church  Street,  built  by 
Constant  Kirtland,  1753,  demolished  19 — . 

60.  Engraving  of  Nehemiah  Hubbard  of  Middletown,  in 
his  83rd  year.     1752-1837. 

61.  Old  mantel  clock. 

62.  Piece  of  Charter  Oak. 

63.  Miniature  Liberty  Bell. 

64.  Pipe  and  case  belonging  to  Dr.  John  Dickinson,  Middle- 
town,  1730-1811. 

65.  New  England  Society  button  from  Portland  Exposition, 

1905- 

66.  Massachusetts  button  from  Portland  Exposition,  1905. 

67.  John  Winthrop  button,  from  New  London  celebration, 
1906. 

68.  Powder  horn,  once  owned  by  Julius  Andrews  of  East 
Haddam,  and  said  to  have  been  used  in  the  Indian  Wars  and 
the  Revolution. 


35 

69.  Confederate  five-dollar  bill. 

70.  Ring  made  from  wood  of  Charter  Oak. 

71.  Medal  to  commemorate  the  50th  anniversary  of  the 
death  of  Thomas  Robbins,  D.  D.  Presented  by  the  Connecti- 
cut Historical  Society. 

72.  Medal  from  the  Jamestown  Exposition,  1907. 

73.  Key  of  front  door  of  old  Court  House  in  Middletown, 
demolished  1893. 

74.  a,  b.  Keys  of  Town  Clerk's  office  in  old  Court  House 
in  Middletown,  demolished  1893. 

75.  a,  b.  Signs  of  Isaac  Webb,  Attorney-at-Law,  who  once 
conducted  a  school  on  High  Street,  in  the  building  now  known 
as  Webb  Hall  of  Wesleyan  University. 

76.  Spinning  wheel. 

77.  Reel  for  skeining  woolen  yarn. 

78.  Old  kettle  crane. 

79.  Baker  shovel,  used  for  drawing  bread,  etc.,  from  old 
brick  oven. 

80.  Pistol,  made  in  Middletown,  1862,  by  Alsop  Arms  Co. 

81.  Clock  weight  from  Gen.  Parson's  house.     (See  No.  59.) 

82.  One-dollar  bill  of  Central  National  Bank,  Middletown, 
Nov.  17,  1851,  bearing  signatures  of  Henry  D.  Smith,  Cashier, 
and  Charles  Woodward,  President, 

83.  Flint-lock  fowling  piece. 

84.  String  of  antique  sleigh  bells. 

85.  Complete  old  appliance  for  making  cheese. 

86.  Runlet,  or  wooden  drinking  bottle. 

87.  Three  silver-plated  buttons  formerly  worn  by  the 
Partridge  Cadets  and  recently  excavated  on  the  grounds  of 
Wesleyan  University. 

88.  Old  embroidered  cloth  bag. 

89.  Medal  of  The  Father  Mathew  Temperance  Society. 

90.  Exhibition  case  of  plane  irons,  made  by  E.  W.  N.  Starr 
&Co. 

91.  Daguerreotype  of  Rev.  John  R.  Crane,  D.  D.,  pastor  of 
the  First  Church  of  Middletown,  1818-1853. 

92.  Picture  of  Dr.  Wm.  Bryan  Casey,  a  former  physician 
of  Middletown,  surgeon  of  the  20th  Conn.  Regiment. 

93.  Portrait  of  Gen.  William  H.  Russell,  native  of  Middle- 
town,  late  of  New  Haven. 


36 

94-  Ten-skilling  piece,  Danish-American,  1816. 

95.  Tin  baker  for  fireplace, 

96.  Old  mortar  and  pestle. 

97.  Old  brass  kettle. 

98.  Crane  for  fireplace. 

99.  Wall  map  of  Middletown,  1851. 
100.  Large  hair  trunk. 

loi.     Small  hair  trunk. 

102.  Old-fashioned  wall  candlestick. 

103.  Illustrated  map  of  Andersonville  Prison. 

104.  Foot-stove  from  old  Stow  house,  Middlefield. 

105.  Iron  skillet  used  by  the  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Geo.  N. 
Ward  of  Middletown. 

106.  Old  soup  tureen  and  ladle. 

107.  Old  china  platter. 

108.  Covered  basket,  which  belonged  to  Mrs.  Samuel 
Mather,  grandmother  of  Mrs.  W.  B.  Hubbard. 

109.  Large  old  clothes  basket. 

no.  Old  bandbox  with  picture  of  New  York  City  Hall  on 
cover. 

111.  Steelyards. 

112.  a,  b,  c.  Three  fire  buckets  stored  for  years  in  the  loft 
of  the  Middlesex  County  National  Bank. 

113.  a,  b.  Two  fire  buckets  owned  by  Capt.  Henry  Louis 
de  Koven  of  Middletown. 

114.  a,  b.  Two  fire  buckets  from  estate  of  Charles  A. 
Boardman  of  Middletown. 

115.  Fire  bucket  owned  by  Mrs.  Sarah  S.  Spencer,  who  in 
1824  built  and  occupied  the  house  now  208  Washington  Street, 
Middletown. 

116.  a,  b,  c.     Fire  buckets. 

117.  Small  hair  trunk. 

118.  Old  waffle  iron. 

119.  Candle  mould. 

120.  a,  b.     Fluid  lamps. 

121.  Engraving  of  Henry  Clay. 

122.  Office  doorplate  of  Dr.  Wm.  Br3'an  Casey.    (See  No.  92.) 

123.  a,  b,  c.     Whiskey  flasks.     1850. 

124.  Small  steelyards,  made  in  Middletown. 

125.  Combination  knife,  fork,  and  spoon. 


S7 

126.  Framed  copy  of  Declaration  of  Independence.     1818. 

127.  Picture  of  Henry  Clay  Work,  poet  of  the  Civil  War. 

128.  a,  b.     Hetchels. 

129.  a,  b,  c,  d,  e.     Reel. 

130.  Portrait  of  Fanny  Harrison  of  North  Branford,  sister 
of  Captain  Harrison  of  war  of  1812. 

132.  Photograph  of  old  Court  House,  Middletown,  demol- 
ished 1893. 

133.  Painting  by  Benjamin  P.  Elliott,  who  lived  on  the 
corner  of  Court  and  Pearl  Streets,  Middletown. 

The  following  articles  are  from  the  collection  of  Mr.  Charles 
H.  Neff  of  Portland: 

134.  Reel. 

135.  Old  cow-bell. 

136.  Fire  tongs. 

137.  Old  hand-made  shears. 

138.  Very  old  tinder  box. 

139.  Pot  hook,  to  lift  pots  or  kettles. 

140.  Two  weaver's  shuttles. 

141.  Powder  horn. 

142.  Hank  of  bleached  linen  thread. 

143.  Skein  of  white  linen  yarn. 

144.  Two  hanks  of  unbleached  spun  flax. 

145.  Hank  of  unbleached  linen  thread. 

146.  Roll  of  sheep's  wool. 

147.  Old  foot-stove. 

148.  Piece  of  wood  from  the  keel  of  a  ship  unearthed  in 
Front  Street,  New  York,  in  1893.  The  ship  is  claimed  to  have 
been  an  English  transport,  which  brought  troops  and  ammuni- 
tion to  this  country  in  the  French  Colonial  Wars,  and  which 
was  sunk  in  New  York  harbor  about  1733. 

149.  Swingling  knife,  used  for  beating  flax. 

150.  Rapier,  31 -inch  blade. 

151.  Rapier  and  sheath. 

152.  Flint-lock  picked  up  on  the  battlefield  of  Yorktown, 
Va.,  about  1850. 

153.  Pair  of  worsted  hetchels  over  100  years  old. 

154.  Iron  crane,  owned  by  great-grandfather  of  Charles  A. 
Pelton  of  Middletown.  From  Aunt  Philinda  Pelton  house, 
Penfield  Hill,  Portland. 


155-     Old  barometer  and  thermometer,  once  belonging  to 
the  Overton  family,  Portland. 

156.  Old  iron  toaster. 

157.  Revolving  gridiron  with  receptacle  for  fat. 

158.  String  of  eight  old  spools. 

159.  Old  Dutch  axe  brought  over  in  early  days.     Uncovered 
when  ploughing. 

160.  Small  old  pair  of  candle  snuffers. 

161.  Old  clasp  knife  of  odd  form. 

162.  Brass  candlestick. 

163.  Old  style  bullet  mould. 

164.  Pair  of  creepers,  used  for  walking  on  ice. 

165.  Iron  snuffers  and  tray. 

166.  Thirty-one  chipped  flints,  made  for  the  flint-lock  mus- 
kets used  in  the  old  militia  companies. 

167.  Sword  with  sheath.      A  relic  of  the  Spanish-American 
War. 

168.  Hetchel  for  cleaning  flax  or  hemp. 

169.  Three  cannon  balls  and  shell  found  in  an  old  house  in 
Portland. 


170.  a,  b.  Two  U.  S.  Army  pistols,  manufactured  in  Middle- 
town  by  Simeon  North  in  what  is  now  the  factory  of  the 
Rockfall  Woolen  Co. 

171.  Photograph  of  John  A.  Sumner,  an  artist  of  Middle- 
town,  August  4,  1825-December  ID,  1899. 

172.  Photograph  of  Gen.  Wm.  H.  Noble  of  Bridgeport,  born 
Aug.  18,  1813,  in  Middletown. 

173.  Photograph  of  Col.  Henry  C.  Shumway,  7th  Reg., 
N.  Y.,  native  of  Middletown. 

174.  Three  hickory  net  needles,  used  in  repairing  shad  nets. 
Found  in  garret  of  old  Atkins  house,  South  Main  Street, 
Middletown. 

175.  Photograph  of  the  medal  given  to  all  surviving  three- 
months  men  in  the  Civil  War. 

176.  Piece  of  hand-made  clapboard  taken  from  Central 
Hotel,  Meriden,  built  in  1752,  removed  in  1890. 

177.  Plan  and  specifications  of  Woodward  House,  built  by 
Samuel  Stearns,  corner  of  Broad  and  Court  Streets,  Middletown. 


39 

lyS.  Gentleman's  sword,  which  belonged  to  Capt.  Hubbard 
Fuller,  Moodus. 

179.  a.  b.  Two  military  hats  worn  by  members  of  Mans- 
field Guard,  6th  Regt.  Conn.  Militia. 

180.  Bayonet  sheath  with  canvas  belt,  said  to  have  been 
used  in  the  Mexican  War. 

181.  Bayonet  found  in  digging  sewer  in  northern  part  of 
Middletown,  190S. 

182.  Artillery  pike  found  in  ruins  of  Wilcox  &  Crittenden 
factory,  built  in  1808,  burned  1907. 

183.  Forty-pound  shot  that  killed  Charles  C.  Pollard  at 
Spring  Hill,Va.,  in  the  Civil  War. 

184.  Folio  containing  30  photographs  of  celebrated  paint- 
ings and  places  in  Europe,  and  several  local  views. 

185.  Framed  letter  to  Philip  Mortimer  from  trustees  of  the 
First  Church,  tendering  him  a  church  sitting  in  appreciation 
of  his  donation  of  a  burying-ground  for  the  use  of  the  people 
of  the  city. 

186.  Toll  sign  from  Middletown-Portland  bridge,  made  free 
1908. 

187.  Pre-Revolutionary  sign  from  Dan  Cheney's  tavern, 
Portland.  Masonic  emblems  are  painted  on  one  side,  and  a 
schooner  on  the  other. 

188.  Cane  and  banner  from  dedication  of  stone  bridge, 
Hartford. 

189.  a,  h.     Two  astral  lamps. 

190.  a,  b,  c,  d.     Four  military  hats. 

191.  Old  toasting  iron. 

192.  a,  b,  c.     Three  Indian  stone  weapons. 

193.  Pair  of  old  beaded  moccasins. 

194.  Old  iron  shovel. 

195.  Old-fashioned  travelling  bag. 

196.  Flip  iron. 

197.  Eleven  colored  military  pictures. 

198.  Advertising  sign  of  Joseph  T.  Bell,  manufacturer  of 
military  caps  and  belts.  New  York. 

199.  Office  sign  of  E.  W.  N.  Starr,  town  clerk  in  Middle- 
town  for  thirty-eight  years. 

200.  Silk  banner  of  Mattabesett  Division  of  Sons  of  Tem- 
perance. 


201.  Facsimile  of  Judge's  warrant  for  execution  of  Charles  I. 

202.  Facsimile  of  Connecticut  Charter  of  1662,  obtained  of 
Charles  II.  by  Gov.  Winthrop. 

203.  Facsimile  of  autographs  of  original  officials  of  first 
Government  of  Colony  of  Connecticut  (1639),  comprising  the 
towns  of  Dorchester,  Newtowne,  and  Watertown,  soon  after 
called  Windsor,  Hartford,  and  Wethersfield,  respectively. 

204.  Facsimile  of  autographs  of  the  first  Government  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut  (1665),  after  the  union  of  the  colonies 
of  Connecticut  and  New  Haven. 

205.  African  spear-head  made  by  natives. 

206.  Hand-wrought  African  knife. 

207.  Pair  of  white  openwork  stockings,  knit  about  1850  by- 
Mrs.  Maria  Bishop. 

208.  Knapsack  of  Mansfield  Guard. 

209.  Musket  used  by  Gilbert  Bailey  of  Middletown  in  the 
Mexican  War. 

210.  A  chair  owned  and  used  by  Pres.  Washington  in  New 
York. 

211.  Old  door  lock,  found  in  the  Eagle  Hall  Block. 

212.  Small  sampler. 

213.  Musket  made  in  Middletown  in  1833,  by  Nathan  Starr. 
Found  in  the  Eagle  Hall  Block. 

214.  Framed  letter  of  Daniel  French  to  his  mother.  French 
was  a  native  of  Berlin,  Conn.  He  was  a  high-grade  mechanic 
and  especially  interested  in  steam  engines  and  their  use  in 
steamboats.  It  seems  probable  that  Fulton  and  Livingston 
employed  him  to  build  the  "Enterprise"  and  to  equip  it  with 
one  of  his  engines. 

215.  Small  band-box,  made  in  imitation  of  those  in  use  by 
ladies  about  70  years  ago. 

216.  Spool  of  sewing-silk  bought  during  the  Civil  War  of 
Mr.  James  H.  Taylor,  a  merchant  tailor  doing  business  on  Main 
Street.     Cost  f  1.37. 

217.  Photograph  of  Mr.  George  H.  Bishop.  Born  in  Middle- 
town,  June  nth,  1831,  died  on  August  19th,  1909.  A  well- 
known  civil  engineer  and  one  of  the  best  authorities  on 
hydraulic  engineering  in  the  country. 

218.  Old  spectacles  in  case. 


41 

219.  Badge  of  the  Harrison  and  Tyler  political  campaign. 

220.  Model  of  a  privateer,  which  was  commanded  by  Capt. 
William  Van  Deursen,  grandfather  of  Miss  M.  M.  Van  Deursen, 
during  part  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  model  was  made 
from  a  single  block  of  wood  by  Capt.  Van  Deursen 's  nephew, 
Charles  Francis. 

221.  Three  silhouettes.  Of  Mrs.  Richard  Hubbard,  Edward 
C.  Hubbard,  and  a  relative. 

222.  Framed  photograph  of  Mr.  Walter  B.  Hubbard,  a 
charter  member  of  the  Middlesex  County  Historical  Society, 
leader  of  the  Membership  and  House  Committees,  to  whom  is 
due  much  of  the  present  attractiveness  of  the  Society's  rooms. 

223.  Old-fashioned  stiletto. 

224.  Search  Warrant  with  signature  of  Jabez  Hamlin,  first 
Mayor  of  Middletown.  Served  at  the  instigation  of  Robert 
Hubbard  on  November  24th,  1774. 

225.  Flint-lock  pistol,  made  in  Middletown,  1844,  by  J.  D. 
Johnson.     One  of  the  last  of  this  kind  made. 

226.  Cups  and  saucer  of  "Bristol"  ware.  Belonged  to  Gen. 
Lusk,  who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

227.  Platter  of  "Davenport"  ware.    Belonged  to  Gen.  Lusk. 

228.  Eight  nails  from  a  house  one  hundred  and  fifty  years 
old,  known  as  the  Congregational  Mission  House  of  Middle 
Haddam. 

229.  Sword  of  Ithamar  Pelton,  grandfather  of  William 
Walter  Pelton  of  Cromwell  and  of  Dr.  J.  A.  Pelton,  formerly 
of  Middletown. 

230.  Watch  carried  through  the  Civil  War  by  Dumont 
Ripley  Carey,  step-grandson  of  Judge  Hezekiah  Ripley  of 
Windham,  Conn. 

231.  Yale  diploma  of  Judge  Hezekiah  Ripley  of  Windham, 
Conn.     1764. 

232.  Hour  glass. 

233.  Spinning  wheel. 

234.  Reel. 

235.  Cord  and  tassel  used  in  the  old  First  Church  on  Main 
Street. 

236.  A  round  table  from  the  estate  of  George  H.  Hulbert. 

237.  Old  high-back  rocking  chair. 

238.  Old  sofa  formerly  the  property  of  Edward  A.  Russell. 


The  following  have  been  added  to  the  Society's  collection 
during  the  past  year: 

239.  «,  b.  Quaint  leghorn  hat  formerly  the  property  of 
Miss  Emily  Tracy.  Band-box  of  old  fashioned  style  formerly 
in  family  of  Mrs.  A.  W.  Hazen. 

240.  "Flip"  glass,  formerly  the  property  of  Col.  John 
Sumner  who  died  in  1787,  aged  51  years. 

241.  Dutch  oven,  formerly  belonged  to  Mrs.  Clarissa  Birdsey 
of  Middletown. 

242.  a,  b,  c.  Three  antique  trays,  formerly  belonged  to 
Mrs.  Clarissa  Birdsey  of  Middletown. 

243.  Photograph  of  Jonathan  Kilbourn,  for  many  years  the 
proprietor  of  the  Farmers  and  Mechanics  Hotel,  Middletown. 

244.  Photograph  of  Benjamin  Butler,  a  native  of  Cromwell, 
for  many  years  a  sail-maker  on  Water  Street,  Middletown. 

245.  Photograph  of  Gen.  James  T.  Pratt  of  the  State  Militia, 
a  native  of  Middletown. 

246.  Old  fashioned  spectacles. 

247.  Badge  of  member  of  Committee  on  First  Settlers  worn 
by  Frank  F.  Starr  at  250th  Anniversary  of  settlement  of  town 
of  Middletown. 

248.  a,  b,  c,  d.  Badge  of  Aid  at  the  Centennial  Anniver- 
sary of  Middletown,  1884,  worn  by  E.  W.  N.  Starr.  Also  three 
other  badges  used  on  same  occasion. 

249.  Framed  photograph  of  Josiah  Meigs  Hubbard,  a  native 
and  resident  of  Middletown,  1832-1909. 

250.  Old  style  straw  bonnet. 

251.  Framed  photograph  of  Brig.  Gen.  Joseph  King  Fermo 
Mansfield,  U.  S.  A.     For  many  years  a  resident  of  Middletown. 

252.  Antique  hunting  knife  found  on  the  farm  of  Dr.  Miner 
C.  Hazen  of  Haddam,  Conn. 

253.  Framed  photograph  of  Horace  Clark,  ninth  mayor  of 
Middletown. 

254.  Musket  balls  found  on  the  battlefield  of  Saratoga, 
about  1840  by  E.  W.  N.  Starr. 

255.  Framed  lithograph  of  old  Middletown,  which  had 
hung  in  the  office  of  Meech  &  Stoddard,  since  1870. 

256.  Engraving  of  the  Charter  Oak,  from  the  original  paint- 
ing, formerly  in  the  possession  of  Hon.  Marshall  Jewell  of 
Hartford. 


4S 

257.  Photograph  of  the  Gen.  Samuel  Holden  Parsons'  house, 
1783-1786.  Built  by  Constant  Kirkland  in  1783.  Torn  down 
in  19 — . 

258.  a,  b.  Framed  photograph  of  Elijah  Hubbard  Roberts 
and  his  wife,  Emily  Pratt  Roberts. 

259.  Picture  with  signature  and  other  handwriting  of  Gen. 
L.  E.  Spinner,  Treasurer  of  United  States. 

260.  Silhouette  of  Dr.  Joseph  Barratt  (see  also  56). 

261.  Medal  and  badge,  commemorating  the  unveiling  of 
statue  of  Gov.  Buckingham,  Hartford,  1884. 

262.  Photograph  of  Oliver  Beebe  of  Akron,  Ohio,  born  in 
Middletown,  September,  1810. 

263.  Badge  of  Connecticut  Historical  Society,  commemor- 
ating Field  Day  at  New  London  and  Groton,  1895. 

264.  a,  b.  Medal  of  Middletown  City  Centennial,  1884. 
Medal  of  250th  Anniversary  of  settlement  of  Middletown,  1900. 

265.  Medal  of  Centennial  of  the  battle  of  Groton  Heights, 
1881. 

266.  Medal  of  Centennial  of  the  inauguration  of  Washington 
as  first  President  of  United  States.     1889. 


The  Society  has  a  library  of  1,871  volumes  and  526 
pamphlets,  many  old  newspapers,  letters,  deeds,  and 
other  records  of  historic  value.  One  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  books  and  pamphlets  have  been  presented 
during  the  past  year.  Mansfield  Post,  G.  A,  R.,  of 
Middletown,  has  presented  the  Society  with  its  large 
collection  of  relics  of  the  Civil  War.  The  Society  also 
has  in  its  keeping  many  articles  loaned  by  the  owners, 
notably  a  collection  of  curious  old  wearing  apparel 
and  fine  embroideries,  and  a  number  of  oil  portraits. 


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